One reason for the dominance of distal effects over proximal and time-varying effects may be that the proximal and time-varying effects of parent alcoholism on children’s externalizing symptoms are heavily impacted by meaningful protective factors. Previous studies show that diminished risk of negative outcomes for COAs whose families are able to maintain rituals and a regularity of routine (e.g., observing holidays, eating meals together) despite having an actively alcoholic parent (Wolin, Bennett, Noonan, & Teitelbaum, 1980). Moreover, some work has suggested that the functioning of the non-alcoholic parent may play a protective role, though findings are mixed (Curran & Chassin, 1996; Werner, 1986). Finally, adolescent COAs with greater cognitive coping styles, typically considered more adaptive when used in response to uncontrollable stressors, have shown reduced risk for alcohol involvement (Hussong & Chassin, 1997). Each of these protective factors may differentially impact the distal, proximal and time-varying effects of parent alcoholism. However, no research has examined whether these protective influences are differentially operative for adolescents as a function of when their parents are actively alcoholic.
