PREDICTING BOYS EARLY-ONSET SUBSTANCE-ABUSE FROM FATHERS ALCOHOLISM, SONS DISRUPTIVENESS, AND MOTHERS PARENTING BEHAVIOR

Sons of male alcoholics (SOMAs) are said to be at risk for alcoholism. The present study examined 4 groups of 13-year-old boys: SOMAs with a nd without disruptive behaviors, disruptive boys who were not SOMAs, a nd control participants. The classification of disruptive was based on 7-year longitudinal data, and father's alcoholism was determined by s tandardized tests. Mothers' nurturance and promotion of autonomy were assessed in a laboratory setting; boys' substance abuse was measured b y self-report methods in the same pear as the observation. Boys with d isruptive behaviors showed the most substance abuse; no effect of fath er's alcoholism was found. Disruptive boys' mothers were significantly less nurturant and demanded obedience rather than promoted. autonomy. A multiple regression analysis revealed that the boys' disruptive beh avior and the mother's lack of nurturance predicted early-onset substa nce abuse.