Abstract
Although previous studies show that children of alcoholic parents have higher rates of externalizing symptoms compared to their peers, it remains unclear whether the timing of children's externalizing symptoms is linked to that of their parent's alcohol-related symptoms. Using a\ multilevel modeling approach, we tested whether children aged 2 through 17 showed elevated mother-, father- and child-reported externalizing symptoms (a) at the same time that parents showed alcohol-related consequences (timevarying effects), (b) if parents showed greater alcoholrelated consequences during the study period (proximal effects), and (c) if parents had a lifetime diagnosis of alcoholism that predated the study period (distal effects). We used integrative data analysis to combine samples from two prospective studies to test these hypotheses. Distal effects of parent alcoholism on increased child externalizing symptoms were large and consistent. In addition, proximal and time-varying effects of parent alcohol symptoms were also found. Implications for preventing escalations in externalizing symptoms among this high-risk population are discussed.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 367-380 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology |
Volume | 38 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2010 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Externalizing symptoms
- Integrative data analysis
- Intergenerational transmission
- Parent alcoholism
- Time-varying effects
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health