The relationship between childhood or adolescent parental divorce/separation and offspring lifetime alcohol dependence may be due to a number of mediating influences, such as inadequate parenting and other maladaptive parental behaviors. Parental divorce is related to poor parenting skills and inadequate child supervision (Kelly, 2000; Storksen et al., 2006). Parental divorce/separation can also result in lack of affection, high levels of criticism or hostility, lax or inconsistent discipline or supervision, or general lack of involvement (Summers et al., 1998; Wolfinger, 1998). Similarly, parents with alcohol problems may be more likely to exhibit maladaptive behaviors in the household which, in turn, are associated with offspring having expectancies and beliefs which lead to increased risk for alcohol dependence (Jacob and Johnson, 1997). Moreover, maladaptive coping and cognitive styles that deemphasize problem-solving may also be modeled and internalized by offspring.
