These earlier studies have provided important suggestive information concerning the potential influence of childhood parental divorce/separation on offspring alcohol problems. However, none of the studies included standardized evaluations of DSM-IV alcohol disorders. Further, only one of the three studies (based on a mailed questionnaire) controlled for parental alcohol problems and none controlled for parental drug, depression, and antisocial behavior problems. Given the pervasiveness of divorce/separation among families with children and the disability associated with alcohol dependence, a better understanding of the relationship between childhood or adolescent parental divorce/separation and alcohol dependence is an important clinical and research issue.
