Examining unique substance-related risk profiles for neglectful behaviors among parents with and without clinical depression

Abstract

BackgroundParental substance use disorder (SUD) is one of the predominant parental risk factors observed for child neglect. Yet, individual risks do not exist in a vacuum. ObjectiveThis study explored the relative importance of parental substance use behaviors based on the presence of key risk (clinical depression) and protective (social support type) factors. Participants and settingThe final analytic sample was composed of 3,545 parents of children aged 2–17 years from Wave 4 data collection of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW I). MethodsWeighted negative binomial regression models examined the interactive relationship between parent self-report of past year substance use patterns, clinical depression, and social support type for annual neglect frequencies. ResultsAmong parents meeting criteria for clinical depression, only parental SUD was associated with higher annual neglect frequency (compared to harmful/risky use); the presence of tangible supports was associated with lower annual neglect frequency while the presence of social companionship was associated with higher annual neglect frequency. For parents not meeting criteria for clinical depression, the study observed an interactive effect where both harmful/risky use behaviors and meeting criteria for SUD significantly contribute to higher average neglect frequencies compared to no past year use, depending on social companionship level. ConclusionsIn order to mitigate neglect risk among substance-using parents, practitioners should look beyond abstinence to address parents’ underlying cognitive/affective functioning and social context.