Paternal alcoholism, parental psychopathology,and aggravation with infants

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of paternal alcohol probl ems, antisocial behavior, and depression in predicting parental attitudes t oward their 12-month-old infants. Families were recruited from birth record s and the final sample consisted of 216 families, 101 in the control group and 115 families with alcoholic fathers (92 with Eight drinking partners an d 23 with heavy drinking partners). Results indicated that fathers' alcohol ism was associated with higher paternal aggravation with the infant. Furthe r fathers' depression mediated the relationship between fathers' current al cohol problems and aggravation. Fathers' alcoholism was indirectly associat ed with maternal aggravation and warmth through the relationship with mater nal antisocial behavior and depression. Results suggest that at least durin g early infancy, parental psychopathology associated with fathers' alcohol problems may play a more important role in predicting parental attitudes to ward their infants than alcoholism per se. Results are further discussed in terms of their implications for parenting and later development among infa nts of alcoholics.