Depressive symptoms, DSM-IV alcohol abuse and their comorbidity among children of problem drinkers in a national survey: effects of parent and child gender and parent recovery status.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to estimate the risk of depressive symptoms, DSM-IV alcohol abuse and their comorbidity among children of problem drinkers (COPDs) in college and the effects of parent and child gender and parent drinking status on outcomes and on COPDs' treatment utilization.

METHOD: The study population was a nationally representative sample of 27,430 college students from 119 4-year colleges who completed survey questionnaires for the Harvard College Alcohol Study in 1997 and 1999. Logistic regression was used to estimate the psychiatric outcomes and patterns of treatment/counseling.

RESULTS

COPDs who reported that their parents were active problem drinkers were at increased risk of depressive symptoms, DSM-IV alcohol abuse and their comorbidity. Female children of active problem drinkers (CAPDs) were at increased risk of depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 1.57,p < .01) and comorbidity of depressive symptoms and alcohol abuse (OR = 2.09, p < .01). Male CAPDs were at risk of depressive symptoms (OR = 1.69, p < .05) only. Stratified analysis by both parent and child gender revealed that depressive symptoms among female COPDs were affected by both paternal and maternal drinking, whereas among their male counterparts depressive symptoms were present only when the affected parent was the father. Male children of recovered problem drinkers were more likely to seek and receive psychiatric treatment/counseling than male CAPDs.

CONCLUSIONS

The psychiatric risk of COPDs varied by respondent and parent gender, and by whether the affected parent was reported to be actively disordered or in recovery. The results highlight the importance of early and gender-specific interventions for COPDs.