Maternal and Paternal Alcohol Misuse and Alcohol-Related Outcomes Among College Students

Abstract

Using a large college student sample (N = 1,095), the present study examined whether the relationship between parental alcohol abuse and offspring alcohol use varied as a function of parent and offspring gender, and whether the relationship to the non-substance-abusing mother or father buffered against the risk associated with being an adult child of an alcoholic (ACOA). Among women, maternal ACOAs (i.e., the mother only was suspected of alcohol misuse) had the greatest risk of problematic alcohol consumption, whereas among men, both parent ACOAs (i.e., both parents were suspected of alcohol misuse) had the greatest risk of problematic alcohol consumption. No support was found for the buffering hypothesis. We discuss implications of our findings and future directions.

RÉSUMÉ

Resultat d'Abus d'Alcool Maternel et Paternel ou Associe a l'Alcool Chez les Etudiants

Utilisant un important échantillon d’étudiants (N = 1,095), l’étude examiné si la relation entre l'abus d'alcool parental et la consommation d'alcool de leur progéniture varié selon la fonction du parent et le sexe de la progéniture et si la relation avec le parent qui n'abuse pas de l'acool, que ce soit la mere ou le père, protege du risque commun a etre un enfant adulte d'un alcoolique (ACOA). Chez les femmes, un ACOAs maternel (seule la mère etait soupçonnée d'abus d'acool) possede le plus grand risque de consomation problematique d'alcool, alors que chez les hommes, les 2 parents ACOAs (les 2 parents sont soupçonnée d'abus d'alcool) donnent le plus grand risque cosommation problematique d'alcool. Aucune evidence n'a ete trouve pour la these de la protection. Nous discuterons des implications des recherches et les directions futures a suivre.

Mots cles: Abus d'alcool, sexe, hypothese de protection, etudiants

RESUMEN

El Abuso del Alcohol y Resultados de Alcohol-Relacionó Maternal y Paternal entre Estudiantes Universitarios

Usando un grupo grande de estudiantes universitarios (N = 1,095), el estudio presente examinó si la relación entre abuso paternal de alcohol y uso de alcohol de progenitura varió como una función de género de padre y progenitura, y si la relación al madre o el padre que no esta abusando de la sustancia amortiguÓ contra el riesgo asociado con ser a un niño adulto de un alcohólico (ACOA). Entre mujeres, ACOAs maternal (es decir, la madre sólo fue sospechada de abuso de alcohol) tuvo el riesgo más grande de consumo problemático de alcohol, mientras que entre hombres, ACOAs de ambos padres (es decir, ambos padres fueron sospechados de abuso de alcohol) tuvo el riesgo más grande de consumo problemático de alcohol. Ningún apoyo fue encontrado para la hipótesis de amortiguar. Discutimos implicaciones de nuestras conclusiones y futuras direcciones.

Las palabras clave: Los Niños Adultos de Alcohólicos, Abuso Maternal de Alcohol, Abuso Paternal de Alcohol, el Género, La Hipótesis de Amortiguar, Estudiantes Universitarios

Keywords :

• adult children of alcoholics
• maternal alcohol abuse
• paternal alcohol abuse
• gender
• buffering hypothesis
• college students

THE AUTHORS

Matthew R. Pearson, MS, is a doctoral candidate in the Applied Experimental Psychology PhD program at Old Dominion University. One of his primary interests is in identifying the antecedents to experiencing alcohol-related problems among college student drinkers with the goal of developing and testing successful preventions and interventions.

Gabrielle M. D'Lima, MS, is a doctoral student in the Applied Experimental Psychology PhD program at Old Dominion University in Virginia. Her primary research interests include antecedents to risky health behaviors and the development of interventions.

Michelle L. Kelley, PhD, is a Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychology at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. Her research is in the area of at-risk families, especially in the areas of the effects of parent alcohol and drug abuse, and related family violence and parenting problems, on short- and long-term child and adolescent outcomes.