Research focusing on maternal alcoholism is somewhat limited. However, some studies have shown the direct and indirect ways in which maternal alcoholism adversely impacts adolescent outcomes. Studies have found that maternal, but not paternal, alcohol abuse was directly related to adolescents' adjustment after controlling for demographic, familial, and individual factors (Rognmo, Torvik, Ask, Røysamb, & Tambs, 2012). Other research has suggested that when the mother has a drinking problem, the family unit may suffer. In a study of female adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs), family roles, and family responsibility, Kelley and colleagues (2007) found that female ACOAs reported assuming more adult roles and experienced increased emotional caretaking of their parents when the alcohol-abusing parent was the mother. Given that mothers typically provide much of the care for children in U.S. families (McGraw & Walker, 2004), perhaps maternal alcoholism negatively impacts children more than paternal alcoholism as it upsets the support structure within the family.
