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Children of Substance-Abusing Parents

Current Findings from the Focus on Families Project

  • Chapter
The Effects of Parental Dysfunction on Children

Abstract

Research into risk factors for problem behavior among children has established clear links between family characteristics and the likelihood that children will become involved in drug abuse, delinquency and other forms of problem behavior (Hawkins, Catalano, & Miller, 1992; Jessor, 1998; Simcha-Fagan, Gersten, & Langner, 1986). Family risk factors that increase risk of substance abuse include parental substance abuse, poor family management practices, family conflict, parental attitudes favorable toward drug use, and parents’ involving their children in their drug use. Family characteristics that protect or buffer children from risk include parent-child attachment and warmth (Brook, Brook, Gordon, Whiteman, & Cohen, 1990; Werner & Smith, 1992), parent support of child competencies (Coie, et al., 1993; Rutter, 1990), and positive parent-child interaction and communications (Shedler & Block, 1990).

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Catalano, R.F., Haggerty, K.P., Fleming, C.B., Brewer, D.D., Gainey, R.R. (2002). Children of Substance-Abusing Parents. In: McMahon, R.J., Peters, R.D. (eds) The Effects of Parental Dysfunction on Children. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1739-9_9

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