Mental disorders and harmful substance use in children of substance abusing parents: A longitudinal register-based study on a complete birth cohort born in 1991

Abstract

Introduction and aims: Adverse childhood experiences and their accumulation over childhood have negative outcomes to children, yet earlier findings on the independent effect of parental substance abuse seem inconsistent. Our aims were to examine: (i) whether parental substance abuse is associated with children's mental disorders in mid-childhood (7-12 years) and mental disorders and own substance use in adolescence (13-17 years); and (ii) whether children are affected differently by a mother or father's substance abuse.

Design and methods: A register-based longitudinal data on a complete birth cohort of children born in Finland in 1991 (n = 65 117) and their biological parents. The children were followed until their 18^th birthday. Data were derived from the Finnish administrative registries. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used in the analysis.

Results: Maternal, paternal and both parents' substance abuse were significant predictors of mental disorders and harmful substance use in children aged 13-17 years, even after controlling for other adverse childhood experiences, parental education and child's gender. Parental substance abuse predicted mental disorders in children aged 7-12 years in bivariate model but in multivariate model the association disappeared. Maternal substance abuse had stronger effect on harmful substance use in adolescent children than paternal. There were no significant interactions between substance abusing parents' gender and the child's gender.

Discussion and conclusions: Early identification, prevention and treatment of substance abuse in families with children in primary health care, child welfare and other services are crucial in preventing intergenerational transmission of the problems associated with parental substance abuse. [Jääskeläinen M, Holmila M, Notkola I-L, Raitasalo K. Mental disorders and harmful substance use in children of substance abusing parents: A longitudinal register-based study on a complete birth cohort born in 1991. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;35:728-740].

Keywords: adolescent; cohort study; mental disorder; parent-child relation; parental substance abuse.