The impact of parenthood on alcohol consumption trajectories: Variations as a function of timing of parenthood, familial alcoholism, and gender

Abstract

The current study tested the impact of the transition to parenthood on growth in alcohol consumption from early adolescence through emerging adulthood. We measured age-related discontinuity in trajectories of alcohol consumption associated with timing of the parenthood transition, above and beyond the effects of accrued educational status, gender and time-varying marital status. We also examined the impact of a familial selection factor for the transmission of alcohol use problems, family history density of alcoholism (FHD), on both risk for adolescent parenthood and risk for adolescent parents’ continuity in alcohol consumption after the parent-transition within a mediation structural equation model. Premature timing of parenthood had a distinct effect on emerging adult alcohol trajectories. Although participants who became parents as emerging adults showed role-related decline in alcohol consumption, those who became parents during adolescence showed a role-related rise in emerging adult alcohol consumption. Gender moderated adolescent parents’ role-related growth in emerging adult alcohol consumption. Adolescent fathers showed an adverse rise in alcohol consumption after becoming parents, while adolescent mothers’ alcohol consumption did not change significantly. FHD was related to high adolescent alcohol consumption, which mediated risk for the incidence of early parenthood. Finally, the adverse effect of FHD on trajectories of emerging adult alcohol use was mediated by a dual pathway: (1) developmental continuity of conduct problems and (2) early transition to parenthood.

Men's and Women's Pathways to Adulthood and Associated Substance Misuse

“…Teenage parents have been shown to have higher levels of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use not only during adolescence but also in young adulthood, compared with those who become parents later (Gillmore et al, 2006;Little et al, 2009;Martino et al, 2004;Wolfe, 2009). Early pregnancy and the responsibility of raising a child may not Oesterle et al (2010) have the same association with substance misuse as more normatively timed parenthood during the young adult years.…”

The Relationship of Higher Education to Substance Use Trajectories: Variations as a Function of Timing of Enrollment

“…Research shows that going to college is associated with a significant increase in heavy episodic drinking (HED) and marijuana use between ages 18 and 21 years, and then a decline in use between ages 21 and 25 years (Little et al, 2009). However, little is known about patterns of substance use in relation to the timing of postsecondary enrollment-for example, whether enrollment will be associated with increases in substance use for students who take a year off after high school, as well as those who enroll directly.…”

“…However, it is unclear whether enrollment in college similarly affects students who enroll directly out of high school at age 18 and students who delay their enrollment. Research has investigated associations between alcohol use and the timing of other role transitions (Chassin et al, 2013), such as marriage (Bogart et al, 2005) and parenthood (Little et al, 2009), but not PSE. Findings suggest that marriage tends to be associated with declines in substance use regardless of its timing (Bachman et al, 1997;Bogart et al, 2005;Chassin et al, 2013).…”

“…Findings suggest that marriage tends to be associated with declines in substance use regardless of its timing (Bachman et al, 1997;Bogart et al, 2005;Chassin et al, 2013). However, Little et al (2009) showed that the timing of parenthood had an important effect on discontinuity in alcohol use. Young adult parents experienced expected declines in alcohol use following parenthood, but adolescent parents experienced increases in alcohol use following parenthood (Little et al, 2009).…”

“…However, Little et al (2009) showed that the timing of parenthood had an important effect on discontinuity in alcohol use. Young adult parents experienced expected declines in alcohol use following parenthood, but adolescent parents experienced increases in alcohol use following parenthood (Little et al, 2009). However, little is known about patterns of substance use in relation to the timing of postsecondary enrollment-for example, whether enrollment will be associated with increases in substance use for students who take a year off after high school, as well as those who enroll directly.…”