Aims: To evaluate the prevalence of externalizing symptoms, such as attention problems, aggression and delinquency in the offspring of alcoholics.
Methods: A total of 146 children were divided into three groups with no (group 1, n = 28), one or two (group 2, n = 103) and three or more (group 3, n = 15) first- or second-degree relatives with an alcohol use disorder.
Results and conclusions: The group comparisons revealed that the children of group 3 had significantly higher values for the Child Behavior Checklist scales of attention and delinquent behavioural problems. The results remained significant after controlling for some additional factors such as antisocial personality disorder and drug dependence in the parents.