Citation

McNeal CS, Amato PR. Race Soc. 2000; 3(1): 61-74.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S1090-9524(01)00021-3

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of parental alcohol use on African American (n = 347) and White adult offspring (n = 3,429). Using cross-sectional data, the results indicated similarities as well as differences between African Americans and Whites in the consequences of parental alcohol use for adult offspring. For both groups, parents' drinking was positively associated with offsprings' drinking. And for both groups, parents' alcohol problems were associated with offsprings' alcohol misuse. Differences between the two racial groups emerged with respect to paternal behavior. When fathers had alcohol problems, African American offspring consumed less alcohol, overall, but were more likely to misuse alcohol. This pattern was not observed among Whites. For African Americans and Whites, income was positively related to alcohol use, age was negatively related to alcohol use, and men consumed more alcohol than women. Employment, however, was positively associated with alcohol misuse among African Americans and negatively associated with alcohol misuse among Whites.