THE INFLUENCE OF PATERNAL SUBSTANCE-ABUSE AND DIFFICULT TEMPERAMENT IN FATHERS AND SONS ON SONS DISENGAGEMENT FROM FAMILY TO DEVIANT PEERS

This study was undertaken to examine the relative contribution of pate rnal history of substance abuse and difficult temperament in fathers a nd sons on a panel of individual, family, and interpersonal risk facto rs shown to be associated with deviant peer affiliations among boys. D eviant peer affiliations among boys have been associated with developm ent of a conduct disorder and early age substance nse. In a sample of sons of substance abusing fathers (n = 56) and normal fathers (n = 94) , a structural equation path analysis revealed that the conjoint influ ence of paternal history of substance abuse and difficult temperament in fathers and sons influenced family and interpersonal processes that , in turn, influenced the developmental trajectory of the child toward deviant peer affiliations. The full model (F = 74.49, p < .001, Stabi lity Index = 0.70) explained 50% of the variance on sons' Peer Delinqu ency Scale scores. Implications for primary prevention are discussed.