Paternal Alcohol Abuse Research Articles

Factors Contributing to Violence Against Children: Insights From a Multi-informant Study Among Family-Triads From Three East-African Refugee Camps.

Parental violence poses a considerable, yet mitigable risk for the mental health and well-being of refugee children living in resource-poor refugee camps. However, little is known about potential risk factors for parental violence in these settings. Using an ecological systems perspective and a multi-informant approach, we investigated ontogenic (parental childhood experiences of violence), microsystem (parents' and children's psychopathology) and exosystem (families' monthly household income) risk factors for child-directed parental violence in a sample of 226 Burundian families living in refugee camps in Tanzania. Data were collected through individual structured clinical interviews with mothers, fathers, and children. In the child-report path model [χ2 (6) = 7.752, p = .257, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.99, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.036 (p = .562)], children's posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, externalizing symptoms and paternal PTSD symptoms were positively associated with violence by both parents. Maternal psychosocial impairment was positively associated with child-reported paternal violence. In the parent-report path model [χ2 (6) = 7.789, p = .254, CFI = 0.97, RMSEA = 0.036 (p = .535)], children's externalizing problems as well as a lower monthly household income were positively related to maternal violence. Each parent's childhood victimization was positively linked to their use of violence against children. Maternal psychosocial impairment and paternal alcohol abuse were positively associated with paternal violence. Child and paternal psychopathology, maternal psychosocial impairment, parents' childhood victimization, and families' socioeconomic status may be important targets for prevention and intervention approaches aiming to reduce parental violence against refugee children living in camps.

Epigenetic changes on rat chromosome 4 contribute to disparate alcohol drinking behavior in alcohol-preferring and -nonpreferring rats.

Paternal alcohol abuse is a well-recognized risk factor for the development of an alcohol use disorder (AUD). In addition to genetic and environmental risk factors, heritable epigenetic factors also have been proposed to play a key role in the development of AUD. However, it is not clear whether epigenetic factors contribute to the genetic inheritance in families affected by AUD. We used reciprocal crosses of the alcohol-preferring (P) and -nonpreferring (NP) rat lines to test whether epigenetic factors also impacted alcohol drinking in up to two generations of offspring. F1 offspring derived by reciprocal breeding of P and NP rats were tested for differences in alcohol consumption using a free-choice protocol of 10% ethanol, 20% ethanol, and water that were available concurrently. In a separate experiment, an F2 population was tested for alcohol consumption not only due to genetic differences. These rats were generated from inbred P (iP) and iNP rat lines that were reciprocally bred to produce genetically identical F1 offspring that remained alcohol-naïve. Intercrosses of the F1 generation animals produced the F2 generation. Alcohol consumption was then assessed in the F2 generation using a standard two-bottle choice protocol, and was analyzed using genome-wide linkage analysis. Alcohol consumption measures were also analyzed for sex differences. Average alcohol consumption was higher in the F1 offspring of P vs. NP sires and in the F2 offspring of F0 iP vs. iNP grandsires. Linkage analyses showed the maximum LOD scores for alcohol consumption in both male and female offspring were on chromosome 4 (Chr 4). The LOD score for both sexes considered together was higher when the grandsire was iP vs. iNP (5.0 vs. 3.35, respectively). Furthermore, the F2 population displayed enhanced alcohol consumption when the P alleles from the F0 sire were present. These results demonstrate that epigenetic and/or non-genetic factors mapping to rat chromosome 4 contribute to a transgenerational paternal effect on alcohol consumption in the P and NP rat model of AUD.

Association of sociodemographic factors with various domains of alcohol-induced sexual dysfunction - An Indian perspective.

Background:Sexual dysfunction is frequently seen in alcohol-use disorders. The available research on this topic has studied erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation using nonvalidated scales. This study was undertaken to study the other major domains of sexual dysfunction, namely sexual desire, orgasmic dysfunction and satisfaction, and their association with sociodemographic factors.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used and 78 male patients were recruited. The assessment was conducted using a specially designed intake pro forma, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15) Scale, DSM-5 and International Classification of Disease, 10th revision, diagnostic criteria for research. A correlation between the amount of alcohol consumed and its effect on various domains of sexual dysfunction was also carried out using Pearson's correlation coefficient.Results:The sociodemographic profile was studied in association with the overall (total) IIEF-15 subscale using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Statistically significant differences were observed among age groups, education subgroups, marital disharmony, years of alcohol use, and lifetime alcohol use. Further, since the values of ANOVA were significant, Tukey's post hoc analysis was carried out which showed a statistically significant difference among the groups. Various domains of sexual dysfunction showed a strongly negative correlation for overall IIEF subscale followed by intercourse satisfaction, sexual desire, and orgasmic function with years of alcohol use and lifetime alcohol use.Conclusion:Sexual dysfunction in alcohol dependence patients was significantly associated with a family history of paternal alcohol abuse, lower educational background, increasing age, and marital disharmony. This study also found a strongly negative correlation between various domains of sexual functioning and years of alcohol use/lifetime alcohol use.

The effect of the severity of parental alcohol abuse on mental and behavioural disorders in children

Many studies have shown that children of alcohol abusing parents have a higher risk for mental and behavioural disorders compared to other children. Using a retrospective population-based cohort study, based on health care and social welfare registers that include children born in Finland in 1997 and their biological parents, we evaluated whether the severity of parental alcohol abuse is related to these disorders in children. We examined (1) differences in the incidence of mental and behavioural disorders over time among the children of parents with no alcohol problems, parents with less severe alcohol problems and parents with severe alcohol problems, and (2) associations between mother’s and father’s alcohol abuse and children’s risk of disorders. Children were followed up until the age of 15. A diagnosis of mental or behavioural disorders during the follow-up was received by 15.4% of the boys and 9.0% of the girls. Both less severe alcohol abuse (HR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.14–1.61) and severe alcohol abuse (HR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.11–1.49) in mothers increased the risk of these disorders in their offspring. The corresponding figures among fathers were HR = 1.19, 95% CI 0.92–1.54 and HR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.02–1.32. Our results indicate that both maternal alcohol abuse and paternal alcohol abuse, regardless of severity, are associated with an increased risk of mental and behavioural disorders in children. It is crucial for professionals working with children to pay attention to all children whose parents have any alcohol abuse problems.

Reduced alcohol-seeking in male offspring of sires exposed to alcohol self-administration followed by punishment-imposed abstinence.

Emerging evidence has demonstrated that paternal alcohol use can modify the behavior of offspring, particularly male offspring. However, preclinical studies to date have not used voluntary self‐administration of alcohol to examine alcohol‐related behaviors in offspring. Here, we tested the hypothesis that paternal alcohol self‐administration followed by punishment‐imposed abstinence alters alcohol consumption and seeking in male offspring. Male inbred alcohol preferring iP rats were trained to self‐administer alcohol in one context followed by punishment‐imposed suppression of alcohol‐seeking in a different context using contingent footshock. Following this, all rats were bred with alcohol naïve female iP rats. F1 offspring were then trained to self‐administer alcohol in an identical operant paradigm as sires. Alcohol intake and self‐administration behaviors of alcohol‐sired offspring were compared to control‐sired offspring whose fathers had not been exposed to the alcohol operant conditioning experience. We found that paternal alcohol self‐administration reduced context‐induced relapse to alcohol‐seeking in male offspring. These findings indicate that voluntary paternal alcohol experience, operant conditioning, and punishment can result in intergenerational changes in offspring behavior, and that this effect may protect against the vulnerability to relapse after alcohol use. We also noted reduced alcohol responding in the punishment‐associated context in alcohol‐sired offspring, suggesting altered perception of punishment sensitivity or the anxiogenic response to footshock. Collectively, these findings provide evidence that paternal alcohol abuse can impact alcohol‐related behaviors in male offspring.

DNA methylation-independent growth restriction and altered developmental programming in a mouse model of preconception male alcohol exposure

ABSTRACTThe preconception environment is a significant modifier of dysgenesis and the development of environmentally-induced disease. To date, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) have been exclusively associated with maternal exposures, yet emerging evidence suggests male-inherited alterations in the developmental program of sperm may be relevant to the growth-restriction phenotypes of this condition. Using a mouse model of voluntary consumption, we find chronic preconception male ethanol exposure associates with fetal growth restriction, decreased placental efficiency, abnormalities in cholesterol trafficking, sex-specific alterations in the genetic pathways regulating hepatic fibrosis, and disruptions in the regulation of imprinted genes. Alterations in the DNA methylation profiles of imprinted loci have been identified in clinical studies of alcoholic sperm, suggesting the legacy of paternal drinking may transmit via heritable disruptions in the regulation of imprinted genes. However, the capacity of sperm-inherited changes in DNA methylation to broadly transmit environmentally-induced phenotypes remains unconfirmed. Using bisulphite mutagenesis and second-generation deep sequencing, we find no evidence to suggest that these phenotypes or any of the associated transcriptional changes are linked to alterations in the sperm-inherited DNA methylation profile. These observations are consistent with recent studies examining the male transmission of diet-induced phenotypes and emphasize the importance of epigenetic mechanisms of paternal inheritance beyond DNA methylation. This study challenges the singular importance of maternal alcohol exposures and suggests paternal alcohol abuse is a significant, yet overlooked epidemiological factor complicit in the genesis of alcohol-induced growth defects, and may provide mechanistic insight into the failure of FASD children to thrive postnatally.

SY22PERSISTENT EPIGENETIC MARKS-DNA METHYLATION: WHY THIS MATTERS IN ALCOHOLISMSY22-1TRANSGENERATIONAL EPIGENETIC INHERITANCE IN ALCOHOLISM

It is now recognized that both paternal preconceptions alcohol abuse as well as maternal conception alcohol affects behaviors and health outcomes in offspring. We and others have shown that maternal conception alcohol use increases incidence of later life adult-onset diseases in children including central nervous system dysfunction, depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, inability to deal with …

Temperament, Attachment Styles and Trait Anger of Parents to Adolescents Diagnosed with Conduct Disorder

Identifying the risk factors for conduct disorder is important for the diagnosis, treatment and management of conduct problems. It is well-known that conduct disorder is associated with parental psychopathological conditions like maternal depression, paternal antisocial personality disorder, alcohol and drug abuse. It's aimed to investigate the role of psychopathological characteristics like temperament, attachment styles and trait anger of parents in adolescents with conduct disorders and compare the results with respect to gender. 101 parents consisting of 35 mothers in both groups, 15 fathers in 35 female adolescents and 16 fathers in 35 male adolescents have been included in the study. Mothers and fathers in the sample group have been compared in terms of psychopathological characteristics. Parents included in the study have been evaluated using the Turkish version of the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Questionnaire, Adult Attachment Scale, State Trait Anger Scale and Sociodemograhic Data Form. Acumulative assessment has revealed that depressive and anxious temperaments, insecure attachment style are more common among mothers, compared to fathers. Anger-in scores in mothers were higher than the fathers. Hyperthymic temperament was more prevalent among fathers. According to the obtained data, it can be said that, there are differences in the psychopathological characteristics of parents of adolescents with conduct disorder. The preservation, treatment and management of conduct disorder in adolescents requires an evaluation of the parents' Psychopathological characteristics.

Paternal and maternal alcohol abuse and offspring mental distress in the general population: the Nord-Trøndelag health study

BackgroundThe degree to which parental alcohol abuse is a risk factor for offspring mental distress is unclear, due to conflicting results of previous research. The inconsistencies in previous findings may be related to sample characteristics and lack of control of confounding or moderating factors. One such factor may be the gender of the abusing parent. Also, other factors, such as parental mental health, divorce, adolescent social network, school functioning or self-esteem, may impact the outcome. This study examines the impact of maternal and paternal alcohol abuse on adolescent mental distress, including potentially confounding, mediating or moderating effects of various variables.MethodsData from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT), a Norwegian population based health survey, from 4012 offspring and their parents were analyzed. Parental alcohol abuse was measured by numerical consumption indicators and CAGE, whereas offspring mental distress was measured by SCL-5, an abbreviated instrument tapping symptoms of anxiety and depression. Statistical method was analysis of variance.ResultsMaternal alcohol abuse was related to offspring mental distress, whereas no effect could be shown of paternal alcohol abuse. Effects of maternal alcohol abuse was partly mediated by parental mental distress, offspring social network and school functioning. However, all effects were relatively small.ConclusionsThe results indicate graver consequences for offspring of alcohol abusing mothers compared to offspring of alcohol abusing fathers. However, small effect sizes suggest that adolescent offspring of alcohol abusing parents in general manage quite well.

Maternal and paternal alcoholism and depressive mood in college students: Parental relationships as mediators of ACOA-depressive mood link

The present study examined whether suspecting one's mother versus father of alcohol abuse was associated with parent–offspring relationships, and the degree to which parent–child relationships were associated with depressive symptoms. As compared to non-ACOAs (n = 288), ACOAs (n = 100) reported more negative parent–child relationships (i.e., greater alienation, poorer communication, less trust, greater emotional longing, and more negative attitudes toward the parent) and increased depressive symptoms on the POMS (McNair, Lorr, & Droppleman, 1992). A closer look revealed that suspected maternal alcohol abuse was associated with more negative mother–child relationships, whereas suspected paternal alcohol abuse was associated with more negative father–child relationships. Both maternal alcohol abuse and paternal alcohol abuse predicted depressive symptoms.

Suspected Child Abuse Among Victims of Home Accidents Being Admitted to the Emergency Department

Association between home injuries and child abuse has received interest in Western countries. Inasmuch as it is now known that cultural differences may have an impact on child-rearing practices and the definition of maltreatment, we aimed to assess the suspected physical abuse in children presenting to the emergency department with home injuries and determine the risk factors associated with suspected child maltreatment in our region. The study is prospective in design. The sample was composed of 87 children younger than 72 months with presenting histories of home accidents. Data were collected by interview with the parents and by application of various questionnaires and inventories to both children and their parents. Suspected physical abuse was identified in 16.1% of cases presenting with home injuries. The significant factors associated with suspected abuse were child's age younger than 12 months, having developmental delays in the social and self-care domains, younger paternal age, paternal alcohol abuse, marital discordancy, repeated history of home injuries, and requirement for radiological examination. A missed diagnosis of child abuse can result in repeated injury, cause severe morbidity, and even result in death. This research indicates the features of "victims of accidents" who require special attention to recognize suspected abuse at the emergency department. Cultural factors might also provide additional indications that might aid in determining the cases of child maltreatment.

The Association of Parental Alcohol Abuse and Depression with Severe Emotional and Behavioural Problems in Adolescents: A Clinical Study

Earlier studies have indicated associations between parental psychiatric problems, such as depression, and substance abuse and adolescent problems. This study aimed to determine whether parental psychiatric problems are associated with problems and problem behaviour in adolescents in a clinical sample. The study subjects were 70 outpatient adolescents (age 13-18 years, boys 30%) and their parents. The adolescents were assessed using the structural clinical interview for DSM-III-R (SCID) and a semi-structured questionnaire, and the parents were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Maternal alcohol abuse and depression were associated with serious problems, especially among girls, and paternal alcohol abuse was associated with adolescent health-compromising behaviour. Maternal depression and alcohol abuse had no association with adolescent health-compromising behaviour. Maternal depression without alcohol abuse was associated with the diagnosis of major depressive disorder in adolescents, but not with other adolescent problems, while paternal depression without alcohol abuse was not associated with any adolescent problems. Despite the small study sample, these findings indicate that parental psychiatric problems and alcohol abuse are correlated with adolescent psychological problems and should be considered and assessed when assessing adolescents.

Recurrent disruptions of rituals and routines in families with paternal alcohol abuse*

Abstract: Changes in rituals and routines between drinking and sobriety were examined in families in treatment due to paternal alcohol abuse. Information was gathered through a semistructured family interview. Recurrent disruptions of rituals and routines were found between different phases in the drinking cycle. Disruptions were found typically with regard to the fathers’ participation in rituals and routines, the parental roles and responsibility, the affective quality of the rituals, and the general family climate. Four categories of families were distinguished based on amount and type of disruptions in family rituals and routines (i.e. protecting, emotional disruptive, exposing, and chaotic families). Implications for intervention are described.

Paternal alcohol abuse: relationship between child adjustment, parental characteristics, and family functioning.

This study examines possible risk factors associated with child adjustment in a sample of children with alcohol abusing fathers in Norway (N = 37). Factors included are socio-economic status, severity of the fathers' alcohol abuse, parental psychological problems, and family functioning. Children of alcohol abusing fathers were found to have more adjustment problems assessed by CBCL compared to a general population sample. The findings further suggest that child adjustment in families with paternal alcohol abuse is the result of an accumulation of risk factors rather than the effects of the paternal alcohol abuse alone. Both general environmental risk factors (psychological problems in the fathers, family climate, family health and conflicts) and environmental factors related to the parental alcohol abuse (severity of the alcohol abuse, the child's level of exposure to the alcohol abuse, changes in routines and rituals due to drinking) were related to child adjustment. The results indicate the need to obtain both parents' assessments of child adjustment, as the fathers' assessment was associated with different risk factors compared to the mothers'.

Correlates of family competence in families with paternal alcohol abuse.

The present study explored factors correlated with family competence in families with paternal alcohol abuse (N = 20). Family competence is measured by the Family Competence Scale in the Beavers Systems Model of Family Functioning. Based on a review of the literature, socioeconomic status, parents' psychological symptoms, and drinking behaviour were selected as possible correlates of family competence. The findings indicated that family competence was correlated with both parents' reports of psychological symptoms as measured by SCL-90. The strongest correlate of family competence was, however, the socioeconomic status of the family. The only aspect of drinking behaviour significantly correlated with family competence was severity of the fathers' alcohol abuse. These results indicate the importance of including individual factors, family factors, and socioeconomic measures in the assessment of families with paternal alcohol abuse.

The Adverse Effects of Alcohol on Reproduction

This paper comprises a literary review of the adverse effects of alcohol consumption on reproduction. Particular emphasis is given to developmental disabilities and behaviour problems found in offspring owing to maternal and/or paternal alcohol abuse. Attention is drawn to adverse effects on nutritional status of alcohol consumption. Remedial measures for the reduction of alcohol-induced fetal damage are suggested.

Children with alcohol misusing parents.

Children of alcohol abusing parents (COAs) now receive more attention in their own right but data from methodologically sound studies is still thin. Genetic vulnerability increases risk of comorbidity for other psychiatric disorders and cognitive deficits as well as substance abuse. Neuropsychological effects of maternal alcohol consumption in pregnancy are more common than previously thought and paternal alcohol abuse may contribute to fetal damage. Family functioning is severely affected and COAs are at risk for child abuse though the strength of the association needs clarifying. Family drinking patterns are associated with teenage alcohol abuse and early induction increases the risk of addiction. COAs have raised morbidity rates for emotional and behavioural disturbance with impact on the developing child and separate prognostic significance for future adult morbidity other than alcoholism. Ethical considerations arise about the welfare of children cared for by alcohol abusing parents.

Gender differences among African-American substance abusers.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if there were gender differences in 80 medical records (37 African-American men and 43 African-American women) from one drug treatment facility located in a midwestern city. Using independent t-tests and chi square analyses to determine group differences, there were significant gender differences relative to childhood sexual abuse experiences and maternal alcohol and other drug abuse; however, there were no gender differences relative to most drug-related behaviors and to paternal alcohol or other drug abuse. Implications for further study are discussed.