Abstract
The current study examined the distal, proximal, and time-varying effects of parents’ alcohol-related consequences on adolescents’
substance use. Previous studies show that having a parent with a lifetime diagnosis of alcoholism is a clear risk factor for
adolescents’ own substance use. Less clear is whether the timing of a parent’s alcohol-related consequences differentially
predicts the adolescent’s own substance involvement. Using a multilevel modeling approach, we tested whether adolescents showed
elevated rates of alcohol, heavy alcohol, marijuana and other illegal drug use (a) at the same time that parents showed alcohol-related
consequences (time-varying effects), (b) if parents showed greater alcohol-related consequences during the child’s adolescence
(proximal effects), and (c) if parents had a lifetime diagnosis of alcoholism that predated the child’s adolescence (distal
effects). We tested these effects in a high-risk sample of 451 adolescents assessed over three waves beginning at ages 11–15
from 1988 to 1991 (53 % male, 71 % non-Hispanic Caucasian, 54 % children of alcoholic parents and 46 % matched controls).
Strong and consistent distal effects of parent alcoholism on adolescent’s substance use were found, though no additional risk
was associated with proximal effects. Limited time-varying effects were also found. The importance of differentiating the
timing effects of parent alcoholism in identifying underlying mechanisms of risk for adolescent substance use is discussed.
substance use. Previous studies show that having a parent with a lifetime diagnosis of alcoholism is a clear risk factor for
adolescents’ own substance use. Less clear is whether the timing of a parent’s alcohol-related consequences differentially
predicts the adolescent’s own substance involvement. Using a multilevel modeling approach, we tested whether adolescents showed
elevated rates of alcohol, heavy alcohol, marijuana and other illegal drug use (a) at the same time that parents showed alcohol-related
consequences (time-varying effects), (b) if parents showed greater alcohol-related consequences during the child’s adolescence
(proximal effects), and (c) if parents had a lifetime diagnosis of alcoholism that predated the child’s adolescence (distal
effects). We tested these effects in a high-risk sample of 451 adolescents assessed over three waves beginning at ages 11–15
from 1988 to 1991 (53 % male, 71 % non-Hispanic Caucasian, 54 % children of alcoholic parents and 46 % matched controls).
Strong and consistent distal effects of parent alcoholism on adolescent’s substance use were found, though no additional risk
was associated with proximal effects. Limited time-varying effects were also found. The importance of differentiating the
timing effects of parent alcoholism in identifying underlying mechanisms of risk for adolescent substance use is discussed.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s10802-012-9662-3
- Authors
- Andrea M. Hussong, University of North Carolina, CB#3270 Davie Hall, UNC-CH, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3270, USA
- Wenjing Huang, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Daniel Serrano, Vedanta Research, Inc, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Patrick J. Curran, University of North Carolina, CB#3270 Davie Hall, UNC-CH, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3270, USA
- Laurie Chassin, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Journal Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
- Online ISSN 1573-2835
- Print ISSN 0091-0627