Quality of parental relationships in French young adults associated with alcohol abuse and dependency

Alcohol consumption is a major risk factor for disease burden in developed countries. In addition to genetic susceptibility, alcohol consumption is patterned by the social and familial environment. The goal of our study was to examine associations between the quality of familial relationships and alcohol abuse and dependence. We used a national sample of 1,101 French young adults aged 22-35, for which data was collected in 2009. Alcohol-related problems were measured with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Main exposure variables included young adults' self-report of quality of parental relationships. In logistic regression models adjusted for demographic and other covariates, we found that having a poor relationship with one's mother (OR 1.7, 95%CI 1.0-2.7) or father (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.7) was associated alcohol abuse and dependence. Gender stratified analyses suggested that a poor quality relationship with one's mother was associated with alcohol abuse and dependence in women, but not in men. Likewise, a poor quality relationship with one's father was associated with alcohol abuse and dependence in males, but not in females. Results suggest that the quality of parental relationships may be important for alcohol abuse and dependence in young adults in France, particularly when the parent is the same gender. Following confirmation from further studies, family-centered approaches may be considered in prevention efforts to reduce problem drinking in French young adults.