When examining the role of childhood life events such as parental divorce/separation on adolescent alcohol use, the developmental context must be considered. One might speculate that there is a “window of vulnerability” whereby childhood risk is greater if experienced at a very young age. Early exposure may initiate a series of events that render youth susceptible to psychopathology, including early or problem substance use. In addition, family crises such as parental separation/divorce may become less influential on risk behavior as adolescents become more autonomous and peer-oriented and less reliant on family ties and parental support (Malone et al., 2004; Sun & Li, 2007). Early adolescent (age 12) hyperactive behavior and physical aggression tended to be greatest among youth who experienced parental divorce before age 8 as compared to youth whose parents divorced later (Pagani, Boulerice, Tremblay, & Vitaro, 1997). Similarly, the effects of stress on alcohol use tend to weaken as adolescents age into young adulthood (Aseltine & Gore, 2000). However, it is also possible that youth who are already undergoing the stresses associated with adolescence are vulnerable to any additional stress caused by family dissolution (Sun & Li, 2007).
