Does Parental Alcohol Use Influence Children’s Age at First Alcohol Intake? A Retrospective Study of Patients with Alcohol Dependence

Abstract

Parental alcohol misuse has detrimental effects on the entire family. In particular, the safety and general health of the children of parents with alcohol abuse/dependence are of concern to health authorities around the globe. The present study aimed to examine the impact of parental history of alcohol abuse/dependence on the age of first alcohol intake in adult patients with alcohol dependence. Questionnaire data were collected from 294 (57 females) patients with alcohol dependence (M ± SD, 42 ± 10.96 years). The majority of males (61.2%) and over half (50.9%) of females reported no history of parental alcohol abuse/dependence. Male patients with alcohol dependence were less likely to report living with both parents with alcohol abuse/dependence than female patients with alcohol abuse/dependence (p < 0.05). However, male patients who lived with both parents with alcohol abuse/dependence were younger at first alcohol intake than their female counterparts (median age: 12.00 vs. 18.00, p = 0.002) and males raised by parents without alcohol abuse/dependence (median age: 12.00 vs. 16.00, p = 0.036). Our findings suggest that age at first alcohol intake may serve as a marker of household dysfunction, including poor parental management. Our study supports the global need for systemic interventions to help alcohol abusing/dependent parents to carry out their parental responsibilities.

Upward social comparison on network and alcohol dependence in college students: The chain mediation impacts of relative deprivation and anxiety

“…The total score of which was the sum of each item in ADS. The scale has demonstrated satisfactory reliability and validity [39]. The Cronbach's α of alcohol dependence was 0.85.…”

Alcohol Consumption Patterns: A Systematic Review of Demographic and Sociocultural Influencing Factors

“…Additionally, having a family history of alcohol use for those with high Barratt Impulsiveness Scale scores (a questionnaire designed to assess the personality/behavioral construct of impulsiveness) was associated with severe alcohol-related consequences [57]. Living with parents with an alcohol use disorder may results in the earlier consumption of alcohol, and it was reported that male patients who lived with both parents with an alcohol use disorder were younger than the female patients and patients with parents without an alcohol use disorder when they first consumed alcohol [58]; however, this study had significantly more male participants than females, which could alternate the results when comparing males and females.…”