Family Dinner Quality and Adolescent Substance Use: Moderation by Adverse Childhood Experiences

Abstract

Family dinner quality (i.e. family interactions) is associated with lower adolescent substance use (SU). This study examined whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) moderate this relationship. Online survey data were collected from 2090 U.S. adolescents (ages 12–17) and their parents (10/2021–02/2022). Measures included the Family Dinner Index (0–6), ACEs (0 = none, 1–3 = low-to-moderate, ≥4 = high), and past 6-month alcohol, vaping, and cannabis use (no/yes). Generalized linear models tested moderation. Adolescents’ mean age was 14.9 years; 48.8% were female and 52.5% non-Hispanic White. Past 6-month SU included 17.6% alcohol, 17.1% vaping, 15.5% cannabis. ACEs distribution was 26.5% none, 53.3% low-to-moderate, 20.2% high. ACEs significantly moderated associations for alcohol (p =.002), vaping (p =.02), and cannabis (p =.009). Higher dinner quality was associated with 22–34% lower SU prevalence among adolescents with none or 1–3 ACEs, but not among those with ≥4 ACEs. Findings suggest family dinners may protect against SU, though targeted approaches may be needed for youth at higher risk.