Do Changes in Parent-Student Phone Call and Text Message Communication During the Transition to College Predict First-Year Drinking and Consequences? A Prospective Study.

We examined (a) whether changes in parent-student phone call and text messaging communication during the transition into college are associated with alcohol use and related consequences, and (b) whether pre-matriculation drinking patterns predicted these changes in parent-student communication. First-year students ( Changes in phone calls and texting with mothers and fathers during the first month of college predicted alcohol use and consequences into the second semester. In addition, heavy drinking predicted lower odds of texting frequency with mothers staying the same or increasing. This study underscores that consistent call or text communication with students during their transition into college could serve as a protective factor against alcohol risk. By closely monitoring such communication, parents may be better equipped to identify potential signs of risky drinking behavior in their first-year students.