Predicting boys' early-onset substance abuse from father's alcoholism, son's disruptiveness, and mother's parenting behavior.
Sons of male alcoholics (SOMAs) are said to be at risk for alcoholism. The present study examined 4 groups of 13-year-old boys: SOMAs with and without disruptive behaviors, disruptive boys who were not SOMAs, and control participants. The classification of disruptive was based on 7-year longitudinal data, and father's alcoholism was determined by standardized tests. Mother's nurturance and promotion of autonomy were assessed in a laboratory setting; boys' substance abuse was measured by self-report methods in the same year as the observation. Boys with disruptive behaviors showed the most substance abuse; no effect of father's alcoholism was found. Disruptive boys' mothers were significantly less nurturant and demanded obedience rather than promoted autonomy. A multiple regression analysis revealed that the boys' disruptive behavior and the mother's lack of nurturance predicted early-onset substance abuse.
Dobkin
P L
PL
Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. MCDP@musica.mcgill.ca
Tremblay
R E
RE
Sacchitelle
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005192:Family Health; D005544:Forecasting / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*