The longitudinal impact of HIV+ parents' drug use on their adolescent children.
The impact of parental substance use on the emotional and behavioral adjustment of their adolescent children was examined over 5 years. A representative sample of 220 parents with HIV (PWH) and 330 adolescent children in New York City were repeatedly assessed. Some parents never used marijuana or hard drugs over the 5 years (nonusers). Among those who were users, substance use varied over time. PWH who used substances during a specific 3-month period were classified as active users and those who abstained from substance use were classified as inactive users. Longitudinal regression analyses were used to analyze the impact of variations in patterns of substance use over time on their adolescent children's emotional adjustment and behavioral problems. PWH relapse exacerbated adolescent substance use, trouble with peers, and adolescent emotional distress. Even time-limited reductions in parents' substance abuse can have a significant positive impact on their adolescent children's emotional and behavioral adjustment. Interventions that address parental substance use among PWH should be developed to ameliorate the impact of substance use relapse on their adolescents.
Lester
Patricia E
PE
Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA. plester@mednet.ucla.edu
Weiss
Robert E
RE
Rice
Eric
E
Comulada
W Scott
WS
Lord
Lynwood
L
Alber
Susan
S
Rotheram-Borus
Mary Jane
MJ
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors