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Intergenerational influences on early alcohol use: independence from the problem behavior pathway.
David C R Kerr1, Deborah M Capaldi, Katherine C Pears
1Oregon Social Learning Center, Eugene, OR 97401, USA. davidk@oslc.org
Development and Psychopathology
|July 12, 2012
Summary
Fathers' adolescent alcohol use predicts child alcohol use by age 13. Parental alcohol use and exposure to intoxicated adults also contribute to early adolescent alcohol consumption, highlighting intergenerational risk pathways.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Substance Abuse Research
Background:
- Conduct problems are a known risk for adolescent alcohol use.
- Intergenerational transmission of alcohol use and early childhood influences are not well understood.
- Limited research exists on alcohol-specific contextual factors affecting children's early alcohol use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine predictors of child alcohol use by age 13.
- To investigate the role of fathers' adolescent behavior in intergenerational alcohol use.
- To explore alcohol-specific contextual influences on early child alcohol use.
Main Methods:
- A 20-year prospective, multimethod study.
- Involved 83 fathers and 125 children.
- Utilized path modeling to analyze predictors including parental alcohol use, child externalizing behaviors, and exposure to intoxicated adults.
Main Results:
- Fathers' adolescent alcohol use was associated with children's use (β = 0.17), independent of general problem behaviors.
- Both fathers' and mothers' adult alcohol use predicted child alcohol use.
- Exposure to intoxicated adults partially mediated the link between parental alcohol use and child alcohol use.
Conclusions:
- Fathers' adolescent alcohol use is a significant predictor of early child alcohol use.
- Parental alcohol use and exposure to intoxication are key family risk factors.
- Findings illuminate intergenerational alcohol use pathways and family contextual influences.
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