Parenting Facts For College — What Parents of College Students Should Know For Parents of Incoming Students · Week 1 of 6
What Parents of College
Students Should KnowGreetings Lion parents!
My name is Dr. Joseph LaBrie and I am a professor of psychology at LMU. Congratulations to you and your student for making it to this point. In just a few short weeks, they'll be moved into their new LMU dorm and starting college!
I have over two decades researching student well-being in the critical transition from high school to college, as well as working with parents of students. I have a new project, funded by the National Institutes of Health, which seeks to help parents prepare their students for the coming year.
Parenting Facts For College, is a brief weekly email series for parents of incoming LMU students. You'll receive a short weekly email with helpful facts regarding student well-being, along with quick, practical takeaways you can use in conversations with your student. I hope you find this series helpful.
Your student is heading to college. You've thought about the late nights, the new friends, the freedom. And probably, if you're honest, you've thought about alcohol.
The good news: most parents share your concerns. The data below reflects what we know — and what parents like you already believe.
By the Numbers 50%
of high school seniors drink
Most students arrive on campus having already encountered alcohol in social settings.
1 in 3
college students binge drink
About 30% engage in binge drinking — linked to poor decisions, injury, and harm to the developing brain.
1 in 4 students face academic consequences
Missed classes, lower grades, and falling behind — alcohol-related academic problems affect a significant share of students every year.
The Norm Among Parents You're in good company
The majority of parents disapprove of drinking entirely or set strict limits and consider it seldom or never acceptable for their student to drink before age 21.
Think other parents are more relaxed about it? Research shows 65% of parents overestimate how permissive other parents actually are. Chances are, your values are more widely shared than you think.
Worth knowing: Your attitude about drinking matters — even from a distance. Students whose parents set clear, low expectations tend to drink less and experience fewer problems in college.
This is the first of six weekly emails — each one short, research-based, and built around what parents of college students actually want to know.
Keep track of the Parenting Facts For College newsletter and view all available emails using the button below.
Visit Our SiteYou received this because you have an incoming first-year student at LMU.
About Us · LMU HeadsUP LabsParenting Facts for College — The Conversations Most Parents Are Having For Parents of Incoming Students · Week 2 of 6
The Conversations Most
Parents Are HavingHello LMU Parents,
LMU psychology professor Dr. Joseph LaBrie again with an additional Parenting Facts For College update for you. Before students arrive on campus, most parents are already having important conversations about alcohol. The numbers below show just how common these conversations are and why they matter.
By the Numbers 92% of parents discuss the negative consequences of drinking
Topics like drunk driving, blacking out, and other serious risks — most parents are already covering this ground before move-in day.
90% of parents talk about resisting peer pressure to drink
You know your student best. A conversation about peer pressure can help them navigate social situations with confidence.
88% of parents set a clear limit on how much their student can drink
In a national sample of over 1,000 parents, 75% set that limit at zero drinks. Even as your student enters adulthood, they're still listening.
The Norm Among Parents Most parents are already doing this
These conversations are the norm — not the exception. The vast majority of parents are talking openly with their students about alcohol before the semester even starts.
The easiest way to begin these conversations is to ask open-ended questions and remaining curious about your student's experiences and beliefs.
If you haven't had all of these conversations yet, there's still time. Research shows this is one of the most effective windows to connect with your student about healthy choices.
Worth knowing: The safest limit you can set is zero drinks. Even though your student is an adult, they're still listening to your guidance — especially now, at the start of this new chapter.
This is the second of six weekly emails. Each one is short, research-based, and built around what parents of college students actually want to know.
Missed one of our previous emails? Keep track of the Parenting Facts for College newsletter and view all available emails using the button below.
Visit Our SiteYou received this because you have an incoming first-year student at LMU.
About Us · LMU HeadsUP LabsParenting Facts for College — What Parents Should Know About Marijuana and College For Parents of Incoming Students · Week 3 of 6
What Parents Should Know
About Marijuana and CollegeHello LMU Parents,
It's LMU professor Dr. Joseph LaBrie with another Parenting Facts For College update. Conversations about college and alcohol are common — but marijuana is part of the picture too. As your student heads to campus, here's what the research shows about marijuana use among first-year students and why it matters for their overall well-being.
By the Numbers 30%
of first-year students use marijuana
In the first month of college alone. Parents tend to overestimate this number — but it's still significant.
88%
of marijuana users also drink alcohol
The two substances are closely linked — and on days students use marijuana, they tend to drink more.
Binge drinking risk
30%
↓
69%
Marijuana more than doubles the risk of binge drinking
Students who use marijuana see their binge drinking risk jump from 30% to 69% — raising the chances of injury, blackouts, poor academic performance, and unsafe sex.
The Norm Among Parents Most parents are already having this conversation
95% of parents have talked to their student about cannabis use and its risks in the months leading up to college — making this one of the most common conversations parents are having right now.
If you haven't yet, there's still time. Research suggests that using marijuana is related to reduced engagement in campus life, poor academic performance, and increased social isolation. Encourage your student to get engaged with campus, peers, and professors.
Worth knowing: Campus policies on marijuana often do not match state law. What may be legal off campus — or for adults over 21 — can still result in serious consequences under your student's college code of conduct. It's worth knowing the rules before the semester starts.
This is the third of six weekly emails. Each one is short, research-based, and built around what parents of college students actually want to know.
Missed one of our previous emails? Keep track of the Parenting Facts for College newsletter and view all available emails using the button below.
Visit Our SiteYou received this because you have an incoming first-year student at LMU.
About Us · LMU HeadsUP LabsParenting Facts for College — Stress, College, and What Parents Should Know For Parents of Incoming Students · Week 4 of 6
Stress, College, and
What Parents Should KnowHello LMU Parents,
This is LMU Psychology professor Dr. Joseph LaBrie with another Parenting Facts For College update. The first year of college is exciting — and stressful. Nearly every student will feel the pressure of a new environment, new responsibilities, and higher academic demands. What matters is how they respond to it.
By the Numbers 98%
of college students report feeling stressed
Stress in college is nearly universal. Your student is almost certainly going to experience it — and that's okay.
50%
report moderate levels of stress
Half of all students are dealing with stress that is more than just background noise — it's a real, ongoing part of daily life.
35%
say stress affects their academic performance
More than one in three students say stress is getting in the way of their schoolwork — not just their mood.
23%
turn to alcohol to cope with stress
Nearly 1 in 4 students report using alcohol as a coping mechanism — making stress one of the key drivers of drinking on campus.
The Norm Among Parents Most parents are already talking about this
88% of parents have spoken with their student about healthy ways to cope with stress in the months leading up to college.
If you haven't yet, now is a great time. Talk with your student about clubs, activities, and other outlets that can help them manage stress — so they have healthy options ready before they need them.
Worth knowing: If stress is significantly affecting your student's day-to-day life, campus counseling and psychological resources are available. It's worth knowing what support exists at your student's school before they need it.
This is the fourth of six weekly emails. Each one is short, research-based, and built around what parents of college students actually want to know.
Missed one of our previous emails? Keep track of the Parenting Facts for College newsletter and view all available emails using the button below.
Visit Our SiteYou received this because you have an incoming first-year student at LMU.
About Us · LMU HeadsUP LabsParenting Facts for College — Keeping Students Safe: What Parents Should Know For Parents of Incoming Students · Week 5 of 6
Keeping Students Safe:
What Parents Should KnowHello again LMU Parents,
This is Dr. Joseph LaBrie with the next update in the Parenting Facts For College series. When alcohol is present, safety depends on students looking out for each other. The good news: that's already the norm. Here's what the research shows — and how to prepare your student to act on it.
What Students Already Believe 94%
of students would want a peer to intervene if they were too drunk
Stepping in isn't overstepping — it's what students actually want from each other.
95%
of students respect peers who call 911 for a possible overdose
Even if it turns out not to be an emergency. Calling for help is seen as courage, not overreaction.
What Bystander Intervention Looks Like Talk with your student about what it actually looks like to step in. It doesn't have to be dramatic — small actions matter:
1Distract. Change the subject, suggest getting food, or create a reason to leave a situation.
2Delegate. Get a friend, RA, or someone nearby to help — you don't have to act alone.
3Direct. If someone is in danger, call 911. Knowing the school's amnesty policy means they won't hesitate.
The Norm Among Parents 81%
of parents have talked about intervening if a peer is at risk
Most parents are already having this conversation before move-in day.
74%
of parents have encouraged their student to call 911 for an overdose
If you haven't yet, now is the time — before your student ever needs to make that call.
Worth knowing: LMU has a Good Samaritan policy that protects students who call for help from disciplinary consequences. Make sure your student knows the school's policy — and knows that alcohol is involved in many sexual assaults on campus, which is never the fault of the victim.
This is the fifth of six weekly emails. Each one is short, research-based, and built around what parents of college students actually want to know.
Missed one of our previous emails? Keep track of the Parenting Facts for College newsletter and view all available emails using the button below.
Visit Our SiteYou received this because you have an incoming first-year student at LMU.
About Us · LMU HeadsUP LabsParenting Facts for College — Staying Connected: What the Research Says For Parents of Incoming Students · Week 6 of 6
Staying Connected:
What the Research SaysHello LMU Parents,
This is the final email in the Parenting Facts For College series. You've covered a lot of ground over the past six weeks. This last one is about what happens after move-in — and why staying in touch matters more than you might think.
By the Numbers 93%
of parents communicate with their student at least weekly
Staying in regular contact is the norm — and it has real benefits for your student's well-being.
85%
of parents expect a check-in before their student goes out on weekends
A simple check-in keeps communication open and signals that you're still engaged — even from a distance.
RResearch finding: Students who communicate regularly with their parents drink less than those who don't. Your ongoing presence in their life is one of the most effective tools you have.
The Norm Among Parents Your involvement still matters
The transition to college doesn't end your influence — it changes how you use it. Regular check-ins, knowing what's going on in their week, and being someone they feel comfortable calling are all forms of involvement that research shows make a real difference.
It's also worth knowing when the higher-risk moments in the semester tend to be — the first week of college, Fallapalooza, Halloween, birthdays, holiday breaks, and once students are done with finals are all times when students are more likely to drink heavily. A simple message before those moments can go a long way.
A note to close: Thank you for taking the time to go through this series. Parenting a college student is its own kind of challenge — and the fact that you're engaged, informed, and having these conversations puts your student in a much better position. Good luck to you both this semester.
This is the sixth and final weekly email of our series. Each one is short, research-based, and built around what parents of college students actually want to know.
Missed one of our previous emails? Keep track of the Parenting Facts for College newsletter and view all available emails using the button below.
Visit Our SiteYou received this because you have an incoming first-year student at LMU.
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