Risk factors for distress in the adolescent children of HIV-positive and HIV-negative drug-abusing fathers

Abstract

In contrast to previous research on parental drug abuse, the present study examined comorbid drug addiction and HIV infection in the father as related to his adolescent child's psychological distress. Individual structured interviews were administered to 505 HIV-positive and HIV-negative drugabusing fathers and one of their children, aged 12-20. Structural equation modeling tested an hypothesized model linking paternal latent variables, ecological factors, and adolescent substance use to adolescent distress. Results demonstrated a direct pathway between paternal and adolescent distress, as well as an indirect pathway; namely, paternal distress was linked with paternal teaching of coping skills to the child, which in turn was related to adolescent substance use and, ultimately, to the adolescent's distress. There was also an association between paternal drug addiction/HIV and adolescent distress, which was mediated by both ecological factors and adolescent substance use. Findings suggest an increased risk for distress in the adolescent children of fathers with comorbid drug addiction and HIV/AIDS, which may be further complicated by paternal distress. Results suggest several opportunities for prevention and treatment programs for the children of drug-abusing fathers.

Fathers and HIV: considerations for families

“…A study of the adolescent children of drug-using, HIV positive fathers (n = 505) found direct associations between paternal distress and adolescent distress [ 69 ]. In addition, they described several indirect pathways, such as the link between paternal distress and impaired paternal teaching of coping skills, adolescent substance use, and ultimately, adolescent distress.…”

Ethnic Differences in Mental Illness and Mental Health Service Use Among Black Fathers

“…2 Fathers who experience a mental illness may have impairments in parenting practices 3–6 that place their children at increased risk for mental illness and poor functioning. 7–19 Therefore, more research is needed on fathers’ mental health, particularly among racial and ethnic populations who have known risk factors for mental disorders.…”

Μεγαλώνοντας Με Γονείς Χρήστες Ουσιών

“…Γενικότερα, φάνηκε ότι η διαθεσιμότητα ουσιών, όπως σημειώνει και ο Roberts (1999), η ανοχή της «ήπιας» χρήσης και της παραβατικής συμπεριφοράς, χαρακτηριστικό του οικογενειακού τρόπου ζωής, σε συνδυασμό με τα ελλιπή όρια και τις σχέσεις ευνόησαν την συναναστροφή με παραβατικούς εφήβους και την έναρξη της χρήσης. Χαρακτηριστικά στη βιβλιογραφία τονίζεται η μεταβίβαση αρνητικών γονεϊκών προτύπων, όπως η διαγενεακή μεταβίβαση της παραβατικότητας ως γονεϊκής νόρμας, σε σχέση με την έναρξη χρήσης στα παιδιά εξαρτημένων γονέων (Castro et al, 2006;Moss et al, 2003) (Brook et al, 2006a;Stanger et al, 2002) με δεδομένο την υφιστάμενη περιορισμένη διδαχή διαχείρισης δεξιοτήτων στα παιδιά εκ μέρους των γονέων (Brook et al, 2008). Συγκεκριμένα, ο Bays (1990) (Stromwall et al, 2008), με προεξάρχουσες διαταραχές διάθεσης (Beckwith et al, 1999;Jones et al, 2004;Pajulo et al, 2001), προσωπικότητας και ψυχώσεις (Beckwith et al, 1999;Espinosa et al, 2001;Howard et al, 1995).…”