1. Transgenerational Effect of Substance Abuse Between
Students, Parents, and Grandparents
Subira S. Brown*, Duane C. McBride, PhD.**
INTRODUCTION & RESEARCH
QUESTION
The multigenerational transmission process theory
supports the transmission of behaviors through familial
lines. Research shows that substance use by parents
can increase a child’s risk of substance use in the
future (Vassoler et al., 2014; Vermeulen-Smit et
al.,2012). Research also suggests that grandmothers
can contribute to or detract from the survivorship of
the grandchild depending on the genetic relation
between the two (Fox et al., 2009). If the parents and
grandparents can have such an effect on a child’s
health, can the substance abuse past of parents and
grandparents be a good indicator of a student’s
susceptibility to indulge in alcohol, illicit drugs and
sexual behaviors?
Data are presented examining:
• Table I- Of the students who reported having used
alcohol or marijuana, this chart displays the percentage
of them who also had a family member with substance
abuse problem. The data is arranged by gender
(Chi-square analysis).
• Table II-The odds of a student ever using alcohol if a
parent or grandparent had substance abuse problems
Data arranged by gender (Logistic Regression).
• Table III- The percent of students in sexual behaviors
having grandparents with substance abuse problems
compared to students who reported their grandparents
did not have substance abuse problems. Data arranged
by gender (Chi-square analysis).
RESULTS
• Fathers and grandparents with reported substance abuse
problems significantly correlate with students who
reportedly have used alcohol. Male students showed a
stronger correlation than female students(Table I).
• Fathers with reported substance abuse problems
significantly increase the odds of students using alcohol.
For male students the odds ratio was recorded as 2.773
while the female students were recorded as 1.897 (Table
II).
• Grandparents with reported substance abuse problems
significantly correlate with male students who reportedly
engaged in sexual activities. (Table III).
• Ethnicity did not show to be a significant factor of a
student’s substance use .
CONCLUSIONS & FURTHER
STUDIES
• This study affirms past research noting a connection
between an individuals substance use, most specifically
alcohol, and a father’s substance abuse past. This
suggests that fathers may play a critical role in predicting
their son’s alcohol use.
• A mothers substance abuse does not appear to be a
significant indicator of a students substance use.
• Interesting data has shown a grandparents substance
abuse is at times a predictor of students behavior.
However there is limited previous research on the topic.
Thus the mechanism is still highly unknown.
• Future studies could look into discovering how familial
behaviors influence students’ behaviors- whether it is
genetic or environmental and what factors turn these
influences ‘on’ or ‘off’.
• The knowledge of familial substance abuse past was self
reported by the students. There is a possibility that not
all students fully knew their family’s substance abuse
history.
• This research was conducted at a prohibitionist
university. Future research can see if these results are
replicable with stronger effects in non prohibitionist
schools or if it is due to the culture fostered by the
university.
*Biology Department, **Behavioral Sciences Department/Institute for Prevention of Addictions
Table I Gender Mother w/
problem
Father
w/problem
Grandparent
w/problem
% of Students
that ever used
alcohol
[Effect size]
MALE 64.3
[.114]
65.7***
[.200]
54.9*
[.054]
FEMALE 44.4
[.008]
55.9*
[.119]
47.4
[.144]
% of
Students that
ever used
marijuana
[Effect size]
MALE 42.9*
[.138]
31.4
[.116]
31.4*
[.143]
FEMALE 22.2
[0.48]
22.1*
[0.98]
18.6
[.067]
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study, was to examine the
relationship between a student’s substance usage and
the substance abuse behaviors of parents and
grandparents. Students at the university signed a
pledge not to use alcohol or any illicit substances as
well as not to engage in premarital sexual activity as a
measure to protect the health of the students. The
survey used in this study was conducted to obtain
information about the family context of student
substance use that might facilitate campus prevention
efforts.
References
•
Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 277,
• College drinking.
•
Neuropharmacology, 76,
• Vermeulen-Smit, E., Koning, I.M., Verdurmen, E.E., Van der Vorst, H., Engels, R.C.M.E., &Vollebergh, W.A.M. (2012). The influence of paternal and
maternal drinking patterns within two-partner families on the initiation and development of adolescent drinking. Addictive Behaviors, 37, 1248-
1256. doi:10.1016/j.addebeh.2012.06.005
Table III Gender Grandparent
w/problem
% of Students who had sex within
the last year (unmarried)
[Effect size]
MALE 57.5*
[.138]
FEMALE 50.6
[.097]
% of Students who have ever
engaged in oral sex
[Effect size]
MALE 50.0*
[.161]
FEMALE 35%
[.048]
Table II Female Male
Predictor of
alcohol use
B S.E. O.R. C.I. B S.E. O.R. C.I
Mother -.192 .507 .825 .305-
2.231
.393 .621 1.482 .438-
5.008
Father .631
*
.273 1.879 1.101-
3.209
1.020
*
.401 2.773 1.263-
6.090
Grandparent
s
.207 .240 1.230 .768-
1.970
.532 .331 1.703 .891-
3.257
METHODS
The data were collected at a mid-western Christian
university using a purposive sampling method of classes
that would represent the socio-demographics of the
student population. Trained personnel distributed the
survey using an anonymous paper survey and entered
the data into SPSS 21. The study was approved by the
university’s IRB committee. The purpose of the survey
was to examine risk and protective factors in student
health risk behavior. The total number of subjects is 750.