Haugland, S.H., Holmen, T.L., Ravndal, E., and Bratberg, G.H. – 2013
Results of a Norwegian study on the connection between parental alcohol use and their adolescent children’s problem drinking behaviors. Describes the problem of alcohol misuse among youth, noting the increased risk for young people with a family history of alcohol abuse. Also discusses the possible links between parental and offspring gender and alcohol misuse. Describes the methodology of the study. Results of the study show that paternal alcohol use was more common than maternal alcohol use. More boys than girls were characterized as frequent drinkers. Both boys and girls with alcohol misusing fathers were more likely to drink themselves. Girls with mothers or fathers who misuse alcohol were more likely to be problem drinkers than girls with non-alcohol using parents. Authors suggest that parental drinking increases the risk of alcohol use among adolescents, with the father’s drinking being a particular risk factor, especially among boys. Authors discuss genetic and environmental factors that influence teenage drinking, including the modeling of parental behaviors. They also discuss the implications of parental and offspring gender, particularly the negative impact of paternal alcohol use.