Understanding Parental Roles in Drinking and Antisocial Personality Disorder

Nurturing a child in the early years is very critical in the development of the child both physically and psychologically. Scientists are seeking to better understand the connections between parental roles and various facets of life as children move into adulthood.

One area that has been explored is the connection between parents and drinking behaviors. There are genetic connections between parents that have alcohol use disorders and adult children that also struggle with alcohol use disorders. However, there is also a link between alcohol use disorder and antisocial behavior that requires exploring within the context of parental influence.

Patock-Packham and Morgan-Lopez have released a study in 2010 that explores the complex connection between antisocial behaviors, alcohol use and parental roles. Understanding that some individuals may use alcohol as a means to cope with their negative experiences, the researchers sought to understand the link between the three areas.

Antisocial behavior reflects a lack of concern for others and often coincides with alcohol use disorders. This is often a result of the person self-medicating with alcohol. The researchers examined the parental influence on reasons for both drinking and antisocial behavior.

The researchers investigated the direct and indirect links between parental bond and antisocial personality, along with pathological reasons for drinking, alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. The aspects of the parental bond that were examined were care, rejection, overprotection, autonomy and neglect.

The study utilized a two-group SEM path model using college students. There were 164 female and 240 male student participants.

The results of the study show distinct patterns among the male and female participants. The perception among women of having a caring mother lowered the likelihood of antisocial tendencies. A perception of having been rejected by the father was directly linked to pathological reasons for drinking.

The female participants who felt neglected by their mothers showed a direct link to alcohol-related problems.

Feeling neglected by one’s father was directly linked to alcohol-related problems among males. Antisocial personality was reflected when the mother was perceived to be neglectful and the father was perceived to be overprotective.

The findings of the study indicate a strong gender match for parent-offspring effects on children. The study’s results also suggest that the parental influences on vulnerability for alcohol use and antisocial behaviors are very complex. The genders of the respondent and the influencing parent must be considered jointly.