Summer Before College: A Critical Window for Parents to Prevent Risky Behaviors
Research shows the summer before college is a key opportunity for parents to help teens prepare for increased risks like heavy drinking and sexual assault on campus. Brain development continues into the mid-20s, making young adults more susceptible to peer pressure and impulsive decisions, especially in environments with fewer guardrails. Parental involvement and clear communication about alcohol and risk-taking can significantly reduce harmful behaviors during this vulnerable transition.
The transition to college presents a predictable spike in risky behaviors among first-year students, including heavy drinking, substance use, and increased vulnerability to sexual assault and injury. This occurs during a critical developmental period when key brain regions controlling judgment, impulse control, and emotional regulation are still maturing into the mid-20s, while reward and social-belonging centers are especially sensitive. Students simultaneously face major life stressors—separation from family, pressure to fit in, and identity formation—often in environments where substance use is normalized. Research from prevention scientists indicates that parental attitudes and clear communication about alcohol significantly influence student behavior, with permissive parenting and supervised home drinking both associated with increased alcohol use. The authors argue that parents can play a crucial protective role during the summer before college through honest conversations about peer pressure, stress management, and decision-making, rather than stepping back as was commonly advised in previous decades.
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- The ConversationCenter
Summer between high school graduation and college is a critical time for preventing risky behaviors – here’s how parents can play a key role
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