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Psychiatric disorders of children living with drug-abusing, alcohol-abusing, and non-substance-abusing fathers
Kelley, M. L., & Fals-Stewart, W. (2004). Psychiatric disorders of children living with drug-abusing, alcohol-abusing, and non-substance-abusing fathers. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 43(5), 621-628. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-200405000-00016
Objective: The present study examined lifetime psychiatric disorders and current emotional and behavioral problems of 8- to 12-year-old children living with drug-abusing (DA) fathers compared to children living in demographically matched homes with alcohol-abusing (AA) or non-substance-abusing fathers.
Method: Children's lifetime psychiatric diagnoses were determined using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children, Present and Lifetime Version. In addition, both parents completed the Pediatric Symptom Checklist. Substance-abusing fathers were recruited from an outpatient treatment program.
Results: Children who lived with DA fathers were more likely to have a lifetime psychiatric diagnosis (i.e., 53% versus 25% in AA homes and 10% in non-substance-abusing homes). Compared to children in the other groups, children in DA homes were more than twice as likely to exhibit clinical levels of behavioral symptoms.
Conclusions: Children living with DA fathers were more likely to experience a lifetime psychiatric disorder and more negative behaviors compared to children living with an AA father or non-substance-abusing parents.