FAMILY FUNCTIONING AND ADOLESCENT ALCOHOL-USE DISORDERS

Adolescents with alcohol dependence or abuse (n = 126) were compared w ith 124 adolescents with other (nondrug) mental disorders and with a c ontrol group of 94 adolescents with no mental disorders on dimensions of family functioning. General family functioning, mother-adolescent r elationships, and parental monitoring and discipline practices were as sessed by using both adolescent and mother reports. Although overall t he groups differed significantly on all family variables, the relation ships among groups differed for adolescent and mother reports. By moth er reports, families of adolescents with alcohol use disorders functio ned less well than did families of adolescents with other mental disor ders, whereas by adolescent reports these groups were not significantl y different. Examination of both adolescent and mother perspectives ma y be important in understanding the relationship between family functi oning and adolescent alcohol use disorders.