The effect of parents' alcohol problems on children's behaviour as reported by parents and by teachers

Associations between parents' alcohol problems when children were aged 9 and children's behaviour at ages 9 and 13 as reported by parents and teachers were investigated. The sample consisted of participants in a multidisciplinary longitudinal study, data were collected by face-to-face interview. When compared to children with no or mild parental alcohol problems, children classified as having severe parental alcohol problems were more likely to display high levels of problem behaviour at age 9 as reported by teachers and at age 13 as reported by parents. Poorer family relationships, lower verbal and reading proficiency and being male were also associated with high levels of behaviour problems.