A Systematic Review of Household and Family Alcohol Use and Adolescent Behavioural Outcomes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Abstract

Exposure to alcohol misuse is considered an adverse childhood experience impacting on neurodevelopmental and behavioural outcomes in adolescents including substance use, mental illness, problem behaviours, suicidality, and teenage pregnancy. Most research on this issue has focussed on higher income countries, whereas patterns of alcohol use and related factors may be different in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This systematic review therefore seeks to collate all published studies from 1990–2020 on the topic set in LMICs. 43 studies were included, totalling 70,609 participants from 18 LMICs. Outcomes assessed included: substance use; depression/anxiety; suicidal ideation; problem behaviour; emotional dysfunction; teenage pregnancy; and self-harm. Despite heterogeneity in the studies identified, this review documented some association between exposure to household alcohol misuse and adverse adolescent outcomes in LMICs, including mental health problems, problem behaviours, and suicidality. The mechanisms leading to these outcomes are likely varied, and further research in different socio-economic and cultural contexts, particularly in the form of longitudinal studies, is called for.

A Systematic Review of Household and Family Alcohol Use and Childhood Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

“…Of these, 28 studies were focused on children 0–12 years old, and were included in this review. The adolescent studies are summarised elsewhere [ 35 ].…”

“…Therefore an independent examination of the evidence for the impact of household alcohol consumption on children, relative to adolescents, is useful. This particular review article focuses on childhood developmental outcomes, specifically children aged 0-12-years-old, alongside a parallel review focusing on adolescent behavioural outcomes [35].…”

“…Therefore an independent examination of the evidence for the impact of household alcohol consumption on children, relative to adolescents, is useful. This particular review article focuses on childhood developmental outcomes, specifically children aged 0–12-years-old, alongside a parallel review focusing on adolescent behavioural outcomes [ 35 ]. To systematically identify studies of the impact of excess alcohol consumption among household adults on child developmental health outcomes (neurodevelopmental, cognitive and behavioural) in low- and middle-income countries and to evaluate the quality of the research To explore whether the nature of alcohol use and misuse differs by individual family members (father, mother or other family member) in its impact on child health outcomes (including neurodevelopment, cognitive and behavioural impact) in low- and middle-income countries …”

The Explanation of Adolescent Delinquent Behaviors Based on Jessor's Problem Behavior Theory (PBT) in Iran: The Role of Individual Vulnerability, Opportunity Risk Availability, and Perceived Support

“…Delinquent behavior refers to an action the commitment of which confronts the offender to the laws of the civil society (1). Some of the delinquent behaviors include theft, property damage, physical aggression, selling drugs, burglary, robbery, vandalism, and avoiding school (2), which could lead to poor educational performance, school absenteeism (3), escape from home (4), substance use, depression/anxiety, self-harm (5), and even increased probability of unnatural death caused by suicide, murder, and alcohol abuse (6,7). Even though the problem behaviors rate has declined in some countries (e.g., the United States) (8), it is still among the widespread risk behaviors in many societies (9)(10)(11).…”

Effectiveness of Community-based Substance Use Prevention Program Among Adolescents - Using Social Cognitive Theory

“…Substance use and abuse continue to be important public health problems that contribute greatly to morbidity and mortality rates globally [1][2][3]. Although drug abuse and smoking show a reasonably stable or reducing trend in many developed countries, they are rapidly increasing in developing countries [4,5]. Thus, in the next few years, the major burden of drug abuse and smoking will be imposed on these countries, which are less equipped to cope with these challenges [6].…”