Buffering the negative effects of maternal alcohol problems on child behavior.

Abstract

Our objective was to examine how mothers' warmth can protect children from the negative effects of maternal alcohol problems on children's externalizing behavior and, alternately, how harsh parenting can exacerbate the problem. We used data from 1,563 families eligible for Early Head Start and assessed when children were age 5 and again at age 11. We examined whether mothers' warmth or harsh parenting at age 5 moderated the effect of maternal alcohol problems on children's behavior problems at age 11. Results indicated that mothers' symptoms of alcohol problems when children were age 5 predicted greater externalizing behavior problems (aggression and rule breaking) when children were age 11. Aggression and rule-breaking behaviors, externalizing behaviors commonly associated with maternal alcohol problems, were lessened when mothers were warm and did not engage in harsh parenting techniques. Our findings highlight the importance of positive parenting techniques in high-risk families.

Parents’ Reports of Children’s Internalizing Symptoms: Associations with Parents’ Mental Health Symptoms and Substance Use Disorder

“…In addition to parental depression and anxiety, during periods of intense substance use, parents may exhibit less child monitoring (e.g., Bountress, Chassin, & Lemery-Chalfant, 2016) and be periodically or habitually uninvolved and emotionally unavailable to children (e.g., Conner-Burrow et al, 2015). Thus, SUD may render parents less able to accurately appraise their children’s internalizing symptoms and result in greater discrepancy between the SUD and non-SUD parents’ reports.…”

Preschool children's response to behavioural parent training and parental predictors of outcome in routine clinical care

“…One study found high levels of maternal ADHD symptoms to be associated with less successful BPT for preschool children (Sonuga-Barke et al, 2002). Also, alcohol abuse in parents may play a role in the effectiveness of BPT, given that problematic alcohol use of mothers is a risk factor for externalizing behaviour problems in young children, especially when mothers engage in harsh parenting techniques (Conners-Burrow et al, 2015). Furthermore, preschool sons of alcoholic fathers appear to be at increased risk of self-regulation problems, especially when their fathers show less parental warmth (Eiden, Edwards, & Leonard, 2004).…”

Three-variable systems: An integrative moderation and mediation framework for developmental psychopathology

“…Several studies have found evidence for moderation, reporting that harsher (or less warm) parenting moderates the effect of parent externalizing on offspring symptoms (Conners-Burrow et al, 2013, 2015; DeGarmo, 2010; Keller, Cummings, Davies, & Mitchell, 2008; although see Frick et al, 1992 for negative findings). At the same time, some others find evidence of mediation.…”