Behaviour problems in 18- to 36-month old children of alcoholic fathers: secure mother-infant attachment as a protective factor.

Full Abstract

This study examined the relationship between paternal alcoholism and toddler behavior problems from 18 to 36 months of age, as well as the potential moderating effects of 12-month infant-mother attachment security on this relationship. Children with alcoholic fathers had higher levels of internalizing and externalizing behavior than children of nonalcoholic fathers. Simple effects testing of an interaction effect of child age, group, and attachment security with mothers on externalizing behaviour suggested that at 24 and 36 months of age mother-infant attachment security moderated the relationship between alcohol group status and externalizing behaviour. Namely, within the alcohol group, those children with secure relationships with their mothers had significantly lower externalizing than insecure children of alcoholics. A similar pattern was noted for internalizing behavior at 36 months of age. Implications for intervention are discussed.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Edwards, Ellen P (EP); Eiden, Rina Das (RD); Leonard, Kenneth E (KE);

Affiliation: Research Institute on Addictions, Buffalo, NY, USA. eedwards(-atsign-)ria.buffalo.edu

Grants: 1K21DA00231-01A1 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS) ; 1R01 AA-10042-01A1 (Agency:NIAAA NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Development and psychopathology (Dev Psychopathol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-; vol 18 (issue 2) : pp 395-407

Dates: Created 2006/07/10; Completed 2006/11/14; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 16830441, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Humans
Infant
Infant Behavior
Male
Mental Disorders - etiology; prevention & control
Mother-Child Relations
Reference Values

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.