Parental Alcohol Intoxication, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Negative Psychological Reactions to Childhood Adversities: Cross-Sectional and Prospective Data from the Population‑Based HUNT Study

Abstract

Children growing up with alcohol-dependent parents have elevated risk for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), but few studies have assessed the adverse effects of occasional or frequent exposure to parental intoxication episodes. This study examined whether such exposure was associated with increased risk of ACEs and negative psychological reactions (NPRs) in adolescence and young adulthood. The study relied on cross-sectional and longitudinal data from the Trøndelag Health Study in Norway and included 2,230 adolescents (ages 13–19 years) followed up 11 years later. Self-report questionnaires were used to collect information about exposure to parental intoxication, ACEs, and NPRs in adolescence and NPRs in young adulthood. Seeing parents drunk occasionally was associated with increased odds of six ACEs (odds ratios 1.42 [95% confidence interval 1.17–1.73] to 2.08 [1.44–3.01]) and increased odds of one NPR in adolescence (1.46, 1.12–1.91) compared with those who had never seen their parents intoxicated. Compared with those who had never seen parents intoxicated, seeing parents intoxicated frequently was associated with increased odds of all ACEs measured (1.80 [1.00–3.23] to 3.27 [1.92–5.56]), two NPRs in adolescence (1.60 [1.02–2.50] and 2.06 [1.30–3.27]), one NPR in adulthood (3.56, 1.83–6.94), and the perception of childhood as difficult/very difficult (2.99, 1.51–5.93). In conclusion, exposure to intoxicated parents was associated with increased risk of ACEs and NPRs during childhood, even at low frequency. Frequent exposure to parental intoxication was also associated with NPR in young adulthood.