Family risk factors for alcohol-related consequences and poor adjustment in fraternity and sorority members: Exploring the role of parent-child conflict

Objective: The relationship between perceptions of parent-child conflict an d alcohol-related consequences was examined in a sample of first-year frate rnity and sorority members. Method: Members (N = 302) were asked to complet e measures of conflict with their mothers and fathers and report on parent problem drinking. Drinking rates, alcohol-related consequences, depression, and global psychological distress were assessed 1 year later (N = 233). Re sults: From a final sample with complete mother and father information (N = 202), parent-child conflict at baseline significantly predicted alcohol-re lated consequences 1 year later for all students. Father-child conflict was a significantly better predictor for male students. Parent histories of pr oblem drinking did not account for this relationship. Although male student s reported substantially higher rates of drinking, the relationship between drinking and alcohol-related consequences was stronger among female studen ts. Parent-child conflict at baseline also predicted adjustment to college at 1-year follow-up. Students who perceived higher levels of mother-child a nd father-child conflict reported higher levels of depression. Students who perceived higher levels of father-child conflict reported higher levels of global psychological distress. Conclusions: Results indicate that percepti ons of conflict in specific parent-child relationships constitute a risk fa ctor for poor college adjustment and the experience of alcohol-related cons equences.