The interactive effect of paternal problem drinking and maternal problem drinking on adolescent internalizing problems

•Paternal and maternal problem drinking interactively predicted depression for boys.•Paternal and maternal problem drinking interactively predicted anxiety.•Results underscore the need to consider paternal and maternal problem drinking.

IntroductionThis study examined the effects of both paternal problem drinking and maternal problem drinking on adolescent internalizing problems (depression and anxiety symptomatology).MethodsSurveys were administered to 566 10th and 11th grade students from the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. in the spring of 2007 and again in the spring of 2008.ResultsAlthough significant main effects were not observed, significant interactions were found between paternal problem drinking and maternal problem drinking for internalizing problems, especially for boys. In general, these interactions indicated that when paternal problem drinking was high, depression symptomatology and anxiety symptomatology were lower if maternal problem drinking was low.ConclusionsFindings from this study highlight the need to consider both paternal and maternal problem drinking when examining the effects that parental problem drinking may have on adolescent adjustment.