NCJ Number
205174
Journal
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: 2004 Pages: 3-25
Date Published
2004
Length
23 pages
Annotation
In addition to identifying the assets and deficits that predict adolescent alcohol use, this study examined whether assets and deficits mediated the relationship between families with a nonresidential biological father and alcohol use by youth, as well as whether the relationship between these same families and juvenile alcohol use was moderated by certain assets and deficits.
Abstract
The study involved a stratified random sample of 3,395 high school students from a statewide population of a Midwestern State. Alcohol use was measured with the Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire was administered to assess childhood maltreatment; the Beck Depression Inventory assessed the current intensity of suicidal thoughts; the Beck Hopelessness Scale assessed negative expectations regarding the future; and the Beck Anxiety Inventory measured the severity of anxiety. The quality of peer associations was also measured. The 12-item Problems with Father subscale of the Multi-Problem Screening Inventory was used to measure relationship problems with a person's father. Measures of assets focused an attachments to one's biological mother and father, caregiver monitoring, resilience, and ego identity. The findings support those of previous studies that have found increased rates of alcohol use among adolescents from families that have the biological father living outside the home. The only stronger predictors for alcohol consumption than father's residence were sexual and physical abuse by adults, greater problems in relating to one's biological father, and less spirituality. Having a nonresidential father remained relevant to alcohol use among adolescents even after nine deficits and eight assets were added to an analysis that already had five other sociodemographic variables. The relationship between father's residence and alcohol consumption among youth was partially but not fully mediated by other important factors. Clinicians should assess not only the structure of the family but also the dynamics involved, since this study found that nonresidential fatherhood per see was not a strong predictor of alcohol use among adolescents. The nonresidence of the biological father becomes a major factor in adolescent alcohol use when they have problems relating to their father, have limited attachment to him, are not closely monitored, and have less spirituality. 3 tables and 92 references