Parental alcoholism and offspring behavior problems: findings in Australian children of twins

Twin Res Hum Genet. 2009 Oct;12(5):433-40. doi: 10.1375/twin.12.5.433.

Abstract

We examine the impact of rearing by an alcoholic parent on risk for child behavior problems using data on 2492 offspring drawn from two ongoing studies of children of female and male same- and opposite-sex twin pairs. Results of regression models predicting child behavior problems from parent and co-twin lifetime history of alcohol use disorder (AUD) provide support for genetic but not environmental transmission of externalizing and a measure of total problem behaviors. Results for internalizing behavior were inconclusive with respect to transmission of risk.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Alcoholism / complications*
  • Child
  • Child Behavior Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Child Behavior Disorders / genetics
  • Child Behavior Disorders / psychology
  • Child of Impaired Parents / statistics & numerical data*
  • Diseases in Twins / complications*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Parents*
  • Personality Assessment
  • Twins, Dizygotic / genetics
  • Twins, Dizygotic / psychology
  • Twins, Monozygotic / genetics
  • Twins, Monozygotic / psychology