The effect of parental alcohol dependence on perceived children's behavior.

The effect of past-year parental alcohol dependence on perceived children's behavioral problems was assessed using data from a general population sample of 3,409 father-child pairs and 5,892 mother-child pairs. Eight percent of the children living in households containing fathers had an alcoholic father; 2% of those living with mothers had an alcoholic mother. Behavioral problems in the 3 months preceding the interview were assessed using a list of 32 indicators and were evaluated by an adult household member, usually the child's mother. The unadjusted odds of a child's being in the top 10th percentile of the behavioral problem distribution were increased by a factor of 1.7 for paternal alcoholism and 2.2 for maternal alcoholism. After adjustment for social and demographic characteristics of the child and family, the odds ratio for alcohol dependence in the mother dropped to 1.6; the odds ratio for paternal alcohol dependence remained at 1.7. Parental alcohol dependence did not interact with social and demographic factors in its association with children's behavioral problems.