Three Generations’ Age-Related Communication Patterns as Predictors of Grandchildren’s Alcohol Use Disorder Symptoms

Abstract

ABSTRACT Alcohol use disorder (AUD) involves excessive alcohol consumption and loss of control over alcohol intake, and is most prevalent among young adults. Using data from grandparents, parents, and grandchildren, each party’s age-related communication patterns (e.g., making age-related excuses for their shortcomings, expressing optimism about growing older) were examined as predictors of young adult grandchildren’s AUD symptoms. Associations between age-related communication and grandchildren’s AUD symptoms emerged after controlling for a variety of potentially confounding factors (e.g., all three parties’ self-reported depressive symptoms, parents’ and grandparents’ unhealthy alcohol consumption, grandchildren’s relational closeness to parents and grandparents). Relative to families with engaged parents, families with gloomy parents had grandchildren who reported fewer AUD symptoms. Relative to families with engaged grandparents, families with bantering and gloomy grandparents had grandchildren who reported more AUD symptoms. Findings are discussed in terms of their contributions to the communicative ecology model of successful aging and the cultivation of resilience in families.