An exploration of the impact of non-dependent parental drinking on children

Abstract

Aims: To examine the impact of non-dependent parental drinking on UK children aged 10-17. Methods: Cross-sectional survey of UK parents and their children in 2017 (administered to one parent in a household, then their child, totalling 997 adults and 997 children) (Foster et al., 2017), providing linked data on parental drinking from parent and child perspectives. The survey included measures of parents’ alcohol consumption and drinking motivations (both reported by parents), and children’s exposure to their parent’s drinking patterns and children’s experiences of negative outcomes following their parent’s drinking (both reported by children), plus sociodemographic measures. Results: Logistic regression analysis indicates a significant positive association between parental consumption level and children reporting experiencing negative outcomes. Witnessing a parent tipsy or drunk and having a parent who reported predominantly negative drinking motives were also associated with increased likelihood of children reporting experiencing negative outcomes. Age was also associated, with older children less likely to report experiencing negative outcomes following their parent’s drinking. Conclusions: Findings suggest levels of and motivations for parental drinking, as well as exposure to a parent tipsy or drunk, all influence children’s likelihood of experiencing negative outcomes.