Relacionamento entre pai e mãe e consumo de álcool segundo relato de escolares de 12 a 14 anos do sul do Brasil

Objective To examine the relationship between parents’ relationship and their alcohol consumption as reported by students from 12 to 14 years old. Methods A cross-sectional school-based study was performed, visiting all schools of two towns in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil (2012), involving a sample stratified by gender, age, municipality and type of school (public or private). Data were submitted to descriptive and Poisson regression analysis with design effect control for the variable school. Results The sample consisted of 2,189 students who were 1,351 (61.7%) from the city of Lajeado and 838 (38.3%) from Sapiranga. No statistically significant association between mother’s alcohol consumption and relationship between father and mother perceived as negative was found. Father’s alcohol consumption reduced the likelihood of the relationship between him and the mother being reported as negative in the crude analysis [PR = 0.857 (95%CI: 0.744-0.988)]. This association also disappears when the analysis was adjusted by sex, age and education level of the main responsible in the family house. Conclusion There is a risk of strong dissonance between the perception the students have about the influence of adults’ alcohol beverage on the relationships in their homes and speeches aiming to show to schoolchildren that alcohol consumption is harmful to loving relationships and care.