Relations among parental substance use, violence exposure and mental health: The national survey of adolescents

Abstract

Objective To study the relations among parental substance use, violence exposure and psychopathology in a nationally representative sample of adolescents. Method Random digit dialing methodology was used to obtain a nationally representative sample of 4023 adolescents, ages 12–17. Telephone surveys, conducted in 1995, assessed demographics, parental substance use, violence exposure, and three psychiatric disorders: major depressive disorder (MDE), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance abuse/dependence (SA/D). Results Obtained prevalence rates included: 8.2% for sexual assault, 22.5% for physical assault, and 39.7% for witnessing violence at home or in the community. Substance use by a family member was reported by 18.4% ( n = 721) of adolescents, with 50.6% reporting parental alcohol use and 19.1% ( n = 138) reporting parental drug use. Consistent with hypotheses, violence exposure and parental substance use, particularly parental alcohol abuse, were independently associated with outcomes. Additionally, parental substance use emerged as a moderator for MDE, PTSD, and SA/D; however, the moderating relations varied according to the outcome variable investigated. Conclusions Violence-exposed adolescents reporting parental alcohol or drug use had the highest rates of psychiatric diagnoses.