Given the inconsistencies and limitations of extant literature, the purpose of this study was to examine the role that family functioning plays in the relationship between parental problem drinking and adolescent externalizing behaviors in a community sample of adolescents and their parents. More specifically, the present study examined whether family functioning mediates the relationships between parental problem drinking and adolescent externalizing behaviors—substance use, rule breaking, and aggression, as reported by both adolescents and their parents. Because past research has indicated that considering both adolescent and parent gender is important, effects based on the gender of the adolescent and parent were explored. Finally, the present study sought to extend the literature by examining the relations between parental problem drinking, family functioning, and externalizing behaviors over time. Three hypotheses were addressed. First, we expected both maternal and paternal problem drinking to positively predict adolescent externalizing behaviors (i.e., alcohol use, drug use, binge drinking, rule breaking behavior, and aggressive behavior). Second, it was hypothesized that family cohesion, adolescent-mother communication, and adolescent-father communication would mediate the relationship between parental problem drinking and adolescent externalizing
