TIMING OF PATERNAL SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER CESSATION AND EFFECTS ON PROBLEM BEHAVIORS IN SONS

The developmental timing of paternal substance use disorder (SUD) offs et on internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors was examined i n prepubertal sons. Analyses revealed a significant main effect of the developmental timing of SUD offset on both internalizing and external izing problems. No differences were found between sons of control-subj ect fathers and SUD+ fathers whose offsets occurred before the son's s ixth birthday. However, when paternal SUD extended beyond the boys' si xth year, significant increases in internalizing and externalizing pro blem behaviors were found. The results suggest the importance of early parental SUD intervention in prevention of the intergenerational tran smission of behavioral problems.