The purpose of these studies were to investigate the mediating effect of inter-parental conflict and family functioning on the relations of father´s problem drinking to child adjustment.
Study 1 was to assess the relations among father´s problem dr...
The purpose of these studies were to investigate the mediating effect of inter-parental conflict and family functioning on the relations of father´s problem drinking to child adjustment.
Study 1 was to assess the relations among father´s problem drinking, inter-parental conflict, family functioning, and child adjustment. Participants were 71 first grade and 72 third grade students of a middle school. The first grade reported less inter-parental conflict and higher family functioning that the third grade. In both grade, father´s problem drinking, inter-parental conflict, and family functioning were significantly interrelated. Also, inter-parental conflict, family functioning, and child adjustment were significantly interrelated. However, father´s problem drinking showed low relations with child adjustment in both grade. Results suggested a possibility that inter-parental conflict and family functioning might mediate the relation of father´s problem drinking to child adjustment.
Study 2 was to determine whether inter-parental conflict and family functioning mediated the relation of father´s problem drinking to child adjustment. Participants were 140(61 female, 79 male) third grade middle school students. Structural analysis was used to specify the relation among father´s problem drinking, inter-parental conflict, family functioning, and child adjustment. Path analysis showed father´s problem drinking had no direct effects on child adjustment; indirect effects were found through inter-parental conflict and family functioning. Inter-parental conflict, and family functioning appeared to mediate the relations of father´s problem drinking to child adjustment.
Results of these studies suggested positive inter-parental relation may enhance family functioning, which in turn may enhance child adjustment attenuating the negative effect of father´s problem drinking. It seemed that more emphasis should be give to inter-parental relation and family functioning in treating problem drinkers and their children. Limitation of these studies and further study directions were also discussed.