Parental Alcohol History Differentially Predicts Offspring Disorders in Distinct Subgroups in Israel

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Objective:The association between alcoholism in parents and related disorders in their offspring is well established in cultures with intermediate/high alcohol consumption, but not in those with low consumption, such as Israel. This study investigated differences in parental transmission of alcohol problems and related psychopathology between immigrants from the former Soviet Union (FSU) to Israel and other Israelis-two Israeli subgroups with differing alcohol consumption behaviors and social norms. Method: A total of 1,347 adults from a household sample were interviewed. Regression analyses were used to examine associations between parental alcohol problems and participant disorders: alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis use disorders (AUD, NUD, CUD); antisocial personality disorder (ASPD); major depressive disorder (MDD); and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We also examined the associations of parental alcohol problems with participant disorders characterized with two latent factors: externalizing (EXT: AUD, NUD, CUD, ASPD) and internalizing (INT: MDD, PTSD). Differential parental transmission of alcohol problems in FSU (n = 315) and non-FSU (n = 1,032) Israelis was examined with statistical interaction. Results: Among emigrants from the FSU, parental alcohol problems predicted AUD, NUD, CUD, ASPD, PTSD, EXT, and INT (mean ratios = 1.38-4.83). In non-FSU Israelis, parental alcohol problems predicted only ASPD and PTSD (mean ratios = 1.08-4.09). Signifi cant interactions were observed for AUD, CUD, PTSD, and EXT; each relationship was stronger in FSU Israelis and null (AUD, CUD, EXT) or less robust (PTSD) in other Israelis. Conclusions: Parental alcohol problems were related to substance use and psychiatric disorders differently in FSU and other Israelis, two groups with different alcohol consumption levels and drinking norms. We propose that, in social contexts that vary in the degree to which they constrain alcohol behavior, underlying genetic predispositions may manifest as different disorders. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, 75, 859-869, 2014)

Borderline personality disorder associates with violent criminality in women: A population based follow-up study of adolescent psychiatric inpatients in Northern Finland

“…In our study, parental substance abuse associated both with violent and non-violent offending among female offspring diagnosed with PD later in life. This finding is consistent with previous studies which have shown that parental substance use has found to associate with children's antisocial PD [37,38] and Borderline PD [35]. In our analyses, child welfare placement in adolescence associated with criminality among women with PD.…”

Sleep Characteristics and Behavioral Problems Among Children of Alcoholics and Controls

“…Past research has indicated that both sleep difficulties (Gregory and Sadeh, 2012) and a parental history of alcoholism (Zucker, 2006) increase the risk of behavioral problems. Even though several studies reported that children of biological, alcohol-dependent parents (COAs) had more internalizing (Eiden et al, 2009; Hussong et al, 2008b) and externalizing problems than non-COAs (Eiden et al, 2007; Meyers et al, 2014), the factors responsible for these differences remain unclear. These factors may explain why some COAs are particularly at risk for behavioral problems.…”

Pathways to post‐traumatic stress disorder and alcohol dependence: Trauma, executive functioning, and family history of alcoholism in adolescents and young adults

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“…For example, one study demonstrated that mother's alcohol dependence status was positively associated with offspring PTSD (Bender, Meyers, McCutcheon, & Bucholz, 2016). This may be due to adverse aspects of the home environment, like having an abusive or neglectful parent or relative (Breslau et al, 2013), as previous studies have demonstrated that having parents with alcohol use problems increases risk for exposure to a traumatic event (Breslau et al, 2013;Dube et al, 2001;Meyers et al, 2014). Further, individuals with a FH of alcohol dependence are at risk, not just because of their environment, but also because of their genetic risk for alcohol dependence, which shares a substantial overlap in genetic influences with PTSD.…”

“…Prior studies have shown that children who grow up in a household with at least one parent with alcohol dependence are more likely to experience trauma compared to children with unaffected parents (Dube et al, 2001;Meyers et al, 2014). However, these studies have only examined dichotomous parental alcohol dependence status, whereas FHD measures may be more useful (Cservenka et al, 2015;Pandey et al, 2020;Powers et al, 2017).…”