A high-risk community study of paternal alcohol consumption and adolescents' psychosocial characteristics.

A prospective community study looked at drinking behavior and biopsychosocial correlates of adolescents (in years 9 and 10 and again in years 11 and 12 at 23 high schools) and their parents. Heavy drinkers were compared to nil/low drinkers. Sons were more likely to drink heavily if fathers drank heavily and mothers who drank heavily were more likely to cohabit with heavy drinkers. Differences in psychological characteristics and home environment were defined in regard to heavy drinking fathers and drinking sons. Difficulty in settling disagreements and reduced time spent with family were the main correlates associated with drinking by both boys who did not necessarily have a heavy drinking father and those who did.