Parental Alcohol Use and Children’s Mental Health: The Case of Turkey

Abstract

This study investigates the association between parental alcohol use and children's mental health in Turkey by using a nationally representative cross-sectional health survey. This study uses Turkey Health Survey of 2016, which is conducted by Turkish Statistical Institute. Mental health statuses of children are measured by an ordered variable, which considers health problems such as mental deficiency, learning disability, attention deficit, late talking and behavioural issues. Ordered Logistic models are utilised to quantify the relationships between alcohol use of parents and children's mental health statuses in Turkey. Empirical findings indicate that children's mental health statuses are negatively associated with alcohol use of fathers and mothers. Additionally, self-rated health statuses of mothers are positively correlated with children's mental health. Finally, male children are more likely to have mental health issues than female children in Turkey.