The Secondary Harms of Parental Substance Use on Children’s Educational Outcomes: A Review

Parental substance use, that is alcohol and illicit drugs, can have a deleterious impact on child health and wellbeing. An area that can be affected by parental substance use is the educational outcomes of children. Current reviews of the literature in the field of parental substance use and children's educational outcomes have only identified a small number of studies, and most focus on children's educational attainment. To grasp the available literature, the method from Arksey and O’Malley (2005) was used to identify literature. Studies were included if they were empirical, after 1950, and focused on children’s school or educational outcomes. From this, 51 empirical studies were identified which examined the relationship between parental alcohol and illicit drug use on children’s educational outcomes. Five main themes emerged which included attainment, behavior and adjustment, attendance, school enjoyment and satisfaction, academic self-concept, along with other miscellaneous outcomes. This paper highlights the main findings of the studies, the gaps in the current literature, and the challenges presented. Recommendations are made for further research and interventions in the areas of parental substance use and child educational outcomes specifically, but also for broader areas of adversity and child wellbeing.

Intergeneration Transmission of Violence in Forensic Patients With a Diagnosis of Schizophrenia and Psychosis: Was Parental Alcoholic Abuse a Significant Factor?

Background: Child abuse during childhood and the presence of parental alcohol abuse increase the risk of developing mental illness in children, as well as the risk of violent behavior in adulthood. The association of these factors has not been sufficiently investigated when it comes to forensic mental patients. In this study, we examined the impact of traumatic events in childhood and the presence of mental illness and alcohol abuse of parents in subjects with psychosis and schizophrenia who committed serious crimes.Methods: One-hundred and forty-three respondents were included in the current study. Information on childhood abuse was collected by Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). The sample included participants diagnosed with psychotic disorders and schizophrenia with a history of violent behavior (PSCH-V, n = 20), patients diagnosed with psychotic disorders and schizophrenia without a history of violent behavior (Non-V-PSCH, n = 51), and healthy control patients (HC, n = 72). Participants were diagnosed according to the ICD 10 classification system. MINI and CAINS scales were used to confirm the diagnosis. Data on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were collected. Differences between groups in terms of traumatic events in childhood as well as parental alcohol abuse are presented and analyzed, using descriptive statistical values and nonparametric techniques of inferential statistics.Results: Statistically significant differences were obtained for total scores (χ2 = 28.522, p < 0.001) as well as for (1) major upheaval between the parents (χ2 = 20.739, p < 0.001), (2) being victim of violence—other than sexual (χ2 = 12.701, p < 0.01), and (3) other major upheaval that may have shaped life or personality significantly (χ2 = 30.920, p < 0.001). PSCH-V, compared to HC, had greater exposure to all of the three domains of childhood trauma (U = 396.500, 436.500, and 376.000, respectively; p < 0.001). Similar results were obtained when Non V-PSCH were compared with HC (U = 1,223.000, 1,535.000, and 999.000, respectively; p < 0.001). The results indicated statistically insignificant differences between PSCH-V and Non-V-PSCH in having a family history of mental illness. On the other hand, family history of mental illness was less present in HC compared to PSCH-V (χ2 = 24.238, p < 0.001) and Non V-PSCH (χ2 = 14.456, p < 0.001). The presence of parental alcohol abuse was predominantly present in the PSCH-V group (60%) while a significantly lower presence was found in the Non-V PSCH group (35%) and HC (5.5%).Conclusion: Both PSCH-V and Non-V-PSCH groups had a high degree of exposure to traumatic events in childhood compared to the HC. In PSCH-V, the presence of parental alcohol abuse compared to Non-V-PSCH was dominant. Mental illness coupled with a history of violent behavior represents a factor of polyvictimization, which may increase the likelihood of violent behavior of offspring.

Parental alcohol use and self-reported health among Swedish adolescents aged 10-18 years

Background Including harm that is inflicted upon the drinker's social environment is vital when calculating the cost of harmful alcohol use to society. Knowledge about the true damage of alcohol is important in order to implement adequate public health responses. Research on children of alcoholics has demonstrated that parental alcohol misuse may affect offspring negatively in several ways. Studies on the general youth population have found that parental drinking is associated with offspring alcohol use. However, the links to offspring health are less explored. The aim of the study was to examine the associations between parental drinking and children's psychological complaints, somatic complaints, and perceived stress. Methods Data were obtained from the nationally representative Swedish Level-of Living survey of 2010. Parents and children (aged 10-18) living together completed surveys independently. The study sample consisted of 905 children, with information from at least one parent, in 627 households. Children's self-reports of psychological complaints, somatic complaints, and perceived stress were coded into binary measures and used as dependent variables. Based on self-reports of frequency and quantity of alcohol use, parents were categorised into abstainers, low consumers, moderate drinkers, and heavy drinkers. Gender, family structure, and parent-reported socioeconomic conditions were included as control variables. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed. Results In the fully adjusted models, children with heavy drinking parents were more likely to report psychological complaints (OR 2.52, p < 0.01), somatic complaints (OR 1.96, p < 0.01), and feeling stressed (OR 1.68, p < 0.05), compared to children whose parents were classified as moderate drinkers. Conclusions The study showed that children living with heavy drinking parents were more likely to report adverse health. Implementing policies that aim to protect these children may be beneficial. Key messages Children living with heavy drinking parents were more likely to report psychological complaints, somatic complaints, and perceived stress. Living with heavy drinking parents may affect children’s health negatively, and measures to mitigate the harms these children experience ought to be considered.

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

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.

“I Wish I Had Help Earlier. We Could Have Been Happier Sooner.” Overcoming the Bystander Effect in the Care for Alcohol-Dependent Parents

Parental alcohol dependency is associated with risks for the well-being of their children. However, guiding these families to support is often complicated. We interviewed 10 alcohol dependent parents, and held 3 focus group interviews with child welfare social workers, and alcohol and other drug workers. We identified a reluctance to act among professional and non-professional bystanders. Family members, neighbours, teachers, and general practitioners are often aware of parental drinking problems, but are reluctant to discuss them with the parents or to alert services designed to support families. The aim of this paper is to share the experiences of parents and show that parents appreciate interventions if done in a certain manner. Although parents were reluctant to discuss their drinking problem, they considered these problems as symptoms of underlying severe distress. They were highly motivated to get help for these underlying problems and wondered why they were not questioned about their distress by those around them. The silence of others reinforced pre-existing feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. In this paper we analyse other's hesitation to intervene as a form of the bystander effect, and make suggestions on how this bystander effect can be overcome.

Associations between parental alcohol problems in childhood and adversities during childhood and later adulthood: a cross-sectional study of 28047 adults from the general population

Background Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are related to adverse physical and mental health outcomes. However, few larger studies based on a general population sample with age groups ranging from young adults to elderly have investigated whether parental alcohol problems increase the risk of offspring subjective reports of ACE both during childhood and current adult adversities. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between parental alcohol problems and adversities during childhood and later in adulthood. Methods The 28,047 respondents were adults (> 18 years old) from the general population who participated in the Norwegian Counties Public Health Survey. The study had a cross-sectional design and included respondents’ evaluations of childhood experiences and current adult adversities. The short version of the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST-6, cut-off ≥3) measured parental alcohol problems. Multivariable logistic regression was adjusted for gender, age, and education. Results Growing up with parental alcohol problems strongly increased the risk of experiencing a dysfunctional family environment during childhood (odds ratio [OR] 6.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.36–7.36), perceiving childhood as difficult (OR 5.01; 95% CI 4.58–5.49), and reporting a lack of support from a trusted adult (OR 3.07; 95% CI 2.86–3.29). Parental alcohol problems were associated with a modestly increased risk of harmful alcohol use (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.29–1.48), but the association with struggling with bad memories was strong (OR 4.56; 95% CI 4.17–4.98). Conclusions Parental alcohol problems increased the risk of offspring experiencing adversities during both childhood and adulthood. Providing supportive services to these children and their families and addressing this issue as part of treatment is important to prevent alcohol related harm.