Other studies have found that maternal and paternal alcoholism affects daughters and sons differently. Research has indicated paternal problem drinking predicts adolescent alcohol consumption (Ohannessian, 2013) and that greater maternal problem drinking is associated with an increase in adolescent alcohol use (Coffelt et al., 2006). Similarly, research has found parental drinking is particularly problematic for same-sex adolescent-parent dyads. Christensen and Bilenberg (2000) found that daughters of maternal alcoholics had higher depression scores than sons, whereas sons of paternal alcoholics had higher depression scores than daughters. Ohannessian (2012) found that maternal problem drinking predicted substance use for girls, whereas paternal problem drinking predicted boys' substance use. These results are not surprising considering social learning theory has suggested adolescents tend to emulate their same-sex parent (Bussey & Bandura, 1984). Although some studies suggest that maternal and paternal alcoholism influence adolescents and the family in similar ways, the effects may be varied, and therefore warrant further research.
