Maternal mental health and alcohol use and the impact on daughter's mental health, communication, and risky sexual behavior in a dyadic longitudinal community sample

• Main Author: Eliseo-Arras, Rebecca K.
• Language: EN
• Published: State University of New York at Buffalo 2016
• Subjects: Mental health|Social work|Women's studies
• Online Access: http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10127748

<p>Research has shown that the effects of maternal stress, alcohol use, and depression can have lasting effects on offspring. These effects can lead to negative outcomes with her daughter, specifically depression and substance use. These compounding issues can then lead to communication issues between the mother/daughter pair. This secondary data analysis study of a longitudinal community dyadic sample of 811 mothers and daughter pairs sought to determine the impact of these negative maternal effects on daughter depression, alcohol use, communication between the pair, and later risky sexual behavior. Using regression analysis with mediation, results indicated that a relationship exists between mother alcohol use and daughter risky sexual behavior only when daughter alcohol use was present. High communication with the mother lead to a decrease in daughter depression. Mother depression predicted daughter depression whereas mother alcohol use predicted daughter alcohol use and daughter depression. While a negative outcome, risky sexual behavior can be seen as a coping strategy for daughters? experiencing a difficult environment and this coping mechanism may bring them temporary feelings of love and importance.