The Influence of Parent Alcohol Use During Adolescence on Adult Antisocial Behavior

Abstract

Antisocial behavior in adolescents and young adults is a serious and prevalent problem, making research into prevention of antisocial behavior critical. Parenting interventions have been identified as a promising avenue for intervention for antisocial behavior development. In this study, I use data from Project Alliance, a longitudinal study of families in the United States, to examine whether parent alcohol use frequency while their child is an adolescent (ages 16-17) is associated with the development of antisocial behavior into adulthood (ages 26-30). In addition, I examine whether parental monitoring behaviors and family conflict during adolescence mediate the relationship between parent alcohol use and future antisocial behavior. I also examine whether parental messaging about substance use abstinence moderates the relationship. Results indicated that above-average parent alcohol use during adolescence explains a small but significant proportion of variance in child antisocial behavior 10 years later. Neither parental monitoring nor family conflict mediated the relationship, and parental messaging about substance use abstinence did not moderate the relationship. This study presents preliminary evidence that parent alcohol use while their child is an adolescent may impact child development of antisocial behavior into adulthood.