Associations of Father’s Cannabis Use Disorder with Child’s Initiation of Alcohol Use, Cannabis Use, and Sexual Intercourse by Child Gender

Background: Early initiation of alcohol use, cannabis use, and sexual intercourse among adolescents is an important public health concern in the United States. Parents\u27 history of substance use disorder is an important contributing factor for children\u27s problem behaviors. Objectives: The associations of fathers\u27 lifetime cannabis use disorder with children\u27s initiation of cannabis use, alcohol use, and sexual intercourse were examined. In addition, child\u27s gender was considered as a moderator of each association. Methods: Data from two companion longitudinal studies was utilized, the Rochester Youth Developmental Study and its intergenerational extension, the Rochester Intergenerational Study. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations of the father\u27s lifetime cannabis use disorder with the child\u27s initiation of cannabis use, alcohol use, and sexual intercourse. To test gender differences in the associations, the study sample was stratified by child\u27s gender. Results: The average age of first cannabis use (b = –3.71, p \u3c .05), alcohol use (b = –3.65, p \u3c .05), and sexual intercourse (b = –2.94, p \u3c .05) among daughters of fathers with a lifetime cannabis use disorder was lower than that of their counterparts after adjusting for all other control variables, whereas no significant differences were detected in a father–son relationship. Conclusions: Homotypic continuity of cannabis use, as well as heterotypic continuity from the father\u27s cannabis use to the child\u27s alcohol use and sexual intercourse existed in a father–daughter relationship. These findings suggest that family-based interventions for female adolescents whose father has suffered from a cannabis use disorder be developed to prevent better adolescents\u27 early substance use and sexual intercourse