The association between maternal and paternal substance use and child substance use, internalizing and externalizing problems: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract

Aims There is substantial evidence showing an association between parental substance use and child substance use and/or mental health problems. Most research focuses upon maternal substance use, with the influence of paternal substance use often being overlooked. We aimed to investigate the differential effects of maternal and paternal substance use upon children aged 0–18 years. Methods We used systematic review methods to identify observational studies examining the association between either maternal or paternal substance use and child substance use and/or mental health problems. The odds ratio (OR) effect measure was used, for ease of computation. We used a random‐effects model with the inverse variance method to meta‐analyse the findings from eligible studies. Results We included 17 unique studies with a total of 47 374 child participants. Maternal and paternal substance use were both associated with increased odds of child any drug use [OR = 2.09; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.53, 2.86; n = 12 349 participants; three studies and OR = 2.86; 95% CI = 1.25, 6.54; n = 5692 participants; three studies, respectively], child alcohol problem use (OR = 2.16; 95% CI = 1.73, 2.71; n = 7339 participants; four studies and OR = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.36, 2.12; n = 14 219 participants; six studies), child externalizing problems (OR = 1.81; 95% CI = 1.01, 3.22; n = 1748 participants; three studies and OR = 1.60; 95% CI = 1.18, 2.17; n = 2508 participants; six studies) and child internalizing problems (OR = 1.60; 95% CI = 1.25, 2.06; n = 1748 participants; three studies and OR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.12, 1.81; n = 2248 participants; five studies). Child any alcohol use was associated with maternal substance use only (OR = 2.26; 95% CI = 1.08, 4.70; n = 28 691 participants; five studies). Conclusions Both maternal and paternal substance use are associated with child substance use and mental health problems.

Promoting Alcohol Reduction in Non-Treatment Seeking parents (PAReNTS): a pilot feasibility cluster randomized controlled trial of brief alcohol interventions with parents in contact with child safeguarding services

“…Research has shown that family services often focus upon mothers as the primary caregiver. Fathers are typically overlooked due to viewing them as less important to child outcomes ( Daniel and Taylor 2001 ), despite both father’s and mother’s alcohol use being found to be associated with adverse child mental health and substance use outcomes ( McGovern et al . 2023 ).…”

Associations between child maltreatment and hospital admissions for alcohol and other substance use‐related disorders up to 40 years of age: Results from the Childhood Adversity and Lifetime Morbidity study

“…We also included the following self‐reported survey items collected at baseline from mothers (1981–83): cigarette smoking behaviours before pregnancy and in late pregnancy, cannabis use in the last 3 months of pregnancy, alcohol consumption before pregnancy and in late pregnancy, and binge drinking during pregnancy. These have previously been linked to the use of alcohol and other substances in children up to 18 years of age [28].…”

“…These have previously been linked to the use of alcohol and other substances in children up to 18 years of age [28].…”

Paternal and Maternal Problem Drinking and Lifetime Problem Drinking of Their Adult Children

“…A number of classic studies have shown that the risk of alcoholism runs in families (Anda et al, 2002;Cotton, 1979;Schuckit & Smith, 1996;Sher et al, 1991). More recent studies have corroborated these findings and extended them to a range of patterns of drinking, including drinking and intoxication frequency and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores (Boden et al, 2019;Kendler, Ji et al, 2015;Mahedy et al, 2018;McGovern et al, 2023;). However, the existing studies on the association of parental alcohol use with alcohol use of their children focus on adolescence and the early twenties, and whether these associations extend to later adulthood is uncertain (Mahedy et al, 2018;.…”