An impaired, low parent-child attachment relationship is a determinant of children’s engagement in delinquent behavior and ultimately the use of alcohol in adult life, a recent study found. Researchers conducted a longitudinal study of 674 participants (53% African American, 47% Puerto Rican, 60% [n=405] female). They found:

• Parental problems with alcohol use in the participants’ late adolescence were related to low parent-child attachment in late adolescence, which in turn, was related to self-delinquency in late adolescence.

• This was related to peer delinquency in emerging adulthood, which in turn, was associated with alcohol use in emerging adulthood and in adulthood.

• Low parent-child attachment in late adolescence was also related to low satisfaction with school in late adolescence, which in turn, was related to self-delinquency in late adolescence.

• This was associated with alcohol use in emerging adulthood, which in turn, was associated with alcohol use in adulthood.