Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access originally published online on August 1, 2007
Alcohol and Alcoholism 2007 42(6):623-628; doi:10.1093/alcalc/agm051
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The influence of parental drinking behaviour and antisocial personality disorder on adolescent behavioural problems: Results of the Greifswalder Family Study
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University, Greifswald, Germany
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Psychiatry, Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald, Ellernholzstr. 1-2, 17487 Greifswald, Germany; E-mail: barnow{at}uni-greifswald.de
Received 1 March 2007; first review notified 21 May 2007; ; accepted 28 May 2007
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Abstract |
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Aim: Contradictory results have been produced by previous research on the question to what extent do children of alcoholics (COAs) differ in measures of externalizing symptoms from children of non-alcoholic parents. The goal of this study was to determine whether COAs are characterized by more behavioural problems than non-COAs, and also to determine the influence of a paternal antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) in this context. Methods: In this study, 340 children and adolescents between the ages of 11 and 18 years and their parents were included. Of this sample, 76 adolescents showed a positive family history of alcoholism (FHalc) and 47 adolescents a positive history of a paternal ASPD (FHaspd). Externalizing symptoms, which where measured on the basis of maternal ratings and self-assessments, were analysed with a two-factorial MANCOVA with FHalc and FHaspd as independent factors. Results: The results of the MANCOVA revealed that only children with paternal ASPD showed significant higher scores in attentional problems, self-rated aggression/delinquency and disruptive behaviour, while there were no differences for FHalc and the interaction effect. Conclusions: Our findings show that the higher of behavioural problems relates primarily to a higher prevalence in both cases of ASPD among fathers. These results were discussed regarding the mediating role of a paternal ASPD for the differences in behavioural problems in COAs and non-COAs. Furthermore, children with FHalc and/or FHaspd represent high-risk groups and should be the focus of prevention and intervention measures.