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Precursors, mediators and problem drinking: path analytic models for men and women
1University of Montana, Missoula 59812-1041, USA.
Journal of Drug Education
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Parental problem drinking significantly impacts offspring alcohol use through various mediating factors. Family environment and personality traits play key roles in this intergenerational transmission of drinking behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- Parental problem drinking is a significant risk factor for offspring alcohol use.
- Understanding the mediating mechanisms is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the direct and mediating effects of mechanisms linking parental problem drinking to offspring problem drinking.
- To examine the role of negative affect, family environment, self-esteem, alienation, goal attainment, psychopathology, and drinking motives.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study involving 650 undergraduate students (350 female, 300 male).
- Multivariate analyses of variance and structural equation modeling (path analysis) were employed.
- Analyses were conducted separately for paternal and maternal problem drinking, and for male and female offspring.
Main Results:
- Parental problem drinking was directly associated with offspring alcohol use.
- Family environment, self-perception, and personality characteristics mediated the relationship.
- Opposite-sexed parents' drinking had a stronger negative impact on offspring self-perception.
- Specific mediating pathways differed between male and female offspring.
Conclusions:
- Parental problem drinking has a direct and indirect influence on offspring alcohol involvement.
- Interventions should address family environment, self-perception, and personality factors.
- Tailoring prevention strategies based on offspring gender may enhance effectiveness.