Familial and personal drinking histories and measures of competence in youth

Based on self-reported family histories, a sample of 1,270 adolescents were categorized into one of three groups: a) family history of alcoholism (FHA), b) family history of heavy drinking (FHHD), and c) family history symptom free (FHSF). These subjects were assessed on 26 measures tapping intra- and interpersonal competence at three points in time. Results of repeated measures (test time) ANOVAs revealed that FHA subjects (as compared to the two other groups) exhibited greatest levels of stress due to their inability to get along with others and the lowest level of attachment to their parents. Over the three test times, FHA subjects appeared to maintain an inappropriately low level of social orientation and display decreases in self-efficacy, goal directedness, and the level of trust and respect for their parents. Children of heavy-drinking, nonalcoholic parents also exhibited low levels of school achievement motivation and social orientation. The alcohol/drug use pattern of the subject was found to be associated with more measures of competence than was family drinking background. Examination of the relationship of varying levels of substance use and competence measures by age group revealed that deficits are not static during the span of adolescence through young adulthood.