Associations between parental alcohol problems in childhood and adversities during childhood and later adulthood: a cross-sectional study of 28047 adults from the general population.

BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are related to adverse physical and mental health outcomes. However, few larger studies based on a general population sample with age groups ranging from young adults to elderly have investigated whether parental alcohol problems increase the risk of offspring subjective reports of ACE both during childhood and current adult adversities. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between parental alcohol problems and adversities during childhood and later in adulthood. METHODS: The 28,047 respondents were adults (> 18 years old) from the general population who participated in the Norwegian Counties Public Health Survey. The study had a cross-sectional design and included respondents' evaluations of childhood experiences and current adult adversities. The short version of the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST-6, cut-off ≥3) measured parental alcohol problems. Multivariable logistic regression was adjusted for gender, age, and education. RESULTS: Growing up with parental alcohol problems strongly increased the risk of experiencing a dysfunctional family environment during childhood (odds ratio [OR] 6.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.36-7.36), perceiving childhood as difficult (OR 5.01; 95% CI 4.58-5.49), and reporting a lack of support from a trusted adult (OR 3.07; 95% CI 2.86-3.29). Parental alcohol problems were associated with a modestly increased risk of harmful alcohol use (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.29-1.48), but the association with struggling with bad memories was strong (OR 4.56; 95% CI 4.17-4.98). CONCLUSIONS: Parental alcohol problems increased the risk of offspring experiencing adversities during both childhood and adulthood. Providing supportive services to these children and their families and addressing this issue as part of treatment is important to prevent alcohol related harm.

Risk factors for suicidal thoughts in adolescence--a prospective cohort study: the Young-HUNT study.

OBJECTIVES: Examining the associations between health and lifestyle factors recorded in the participants' early teens and development of suicidal thoughts recorded 4 years later. DESIGN: Population-based prospective cohort study. SETTINGS: All students in the two relevant year classes in Nord-Trøndelag County were invited, 80% attended both waves of data collection. PARTICIPANTS: 2399 secondary school students who participated in the Young-HUNT1 study in 1995-1997 (13-15 years old) were included in a follow-up study 4 years later (17-19 years old). PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: Suicidal thoughts reported at age 17-19 years. RESULTS: 408 (17%, 95% CI 15.5% to 18.5%) of the adolescents reported suicidal thoughts at follow-up, 158 (14.2%, CI 13.6% to 16.4%) boys and 250 (19.5%, CI 18.8% to 22.0%) girls. Baseline anxiety and depressive symptoms (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.9, CI 1.4 to 2.6), conduct problems (aOR 1.8, CI 1.3 to 2.6), overweight (aOR 1.9 CI 1.4 to 2.4), and muscular pain and tension (aOR 1.8, CI 1.4 to 2.4), were all associated with reporting suicidal thoughts at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: One in six young adults experienced suicidal thoughts, girls predominating. Suicidal thoughts were most strongly associated with symptoms of anxiety/depression, conduct problems, pain/tension and overweight reported when participants were 13-15 years old. Specific preventive efforts in these groups might be indicated. Future research should investigate whether similar associations are seen with suicide/suicidal attempts as endpoints.

Is high-risk use of intoxicants more common among adolescents who have seen their parents intoxicated?

BACKGROUND: Young people's alcohol consumption is related to their parents' alcohol consumption, but little focus has been placed on whether there is a connection with parental intoxication. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the experience of seeing their parents intoxicated is associated with young people's alcohol consumption and experimenting with drugs in their teens. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study is prospective and based on data from 2,399 teenagers who took part in the Ung-HUNT 1 study in 1995-1997 and the Ung-HUNT 2 study in 2000-2001. Self-reported questionnaire data and analysis by means of logistic regression, stratified by gender, were used. RESULTS: Having been drunk > 10 times was associated with having seen their parents intoxicated among boys (OR 3.7; 95% CI 2.7-5.1 and girls (OR 2.0; 1.5-2.6). Drinking alcohol weekly or more frequently was associated with parental intoxication among boys (OR 2.2; 1.6-3.0), but not girls unless they had seen their parents drunk many times (OR 2.4; 1.1-5.2). Experimenting with drugs was associated with parental intoxication among both boys (OR 2.6; 1.7-3.9) and girls (OR 1.6; 1.1-2.2). INTERPRETATION: Repeated intoxication, frequent alcohol consumption and experimenting with drugs by teenagers were associated with seeing their parents intoxicated. There are other explanatory factors for which the study was unable to control, and interpretation of the results should take this into account.

The effect of therapeutic horseback riding on 5 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of therapeutic horseback riding on behavior, health-related quality of life, and motor performance in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). DESIGN: The study employed a time series quasi-experimental design with two pretests and two post-tests conducted 8 weeks apart. SETTING/LOCATION: The study was conducted at a riding school in Levanger, Norway. SUBJECTS: The subjects comprised a convenience sample of 5 children aged 10-11 years with ADHD. METHODS: Subjects received a 1-hour therapeutic horseback riding twice a week for 8 weeks as intervention. OUTCOME MEASURES: Behavior and health-related quality of life was assessed using Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and The KINDL(R)-Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire, respectively. The Modified Function-Neurological Assessment and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children assessed the subject's motor performance. RESULTS: The pre- and post-tests scores were compared with the Wilcoxon paired sample tests and the Friedman test for nonparametric multiple test samples. Positive differences (p≤0.05) between the test results at pretest 2 and post-test 1 were noted for the behavior SDQ subscore "Total difficulties" reported by children (12.8±5.8), by parents (16.6±8.2), and by teachers (15.0±5.2). A significant difference (p<0.05) for the "Total difficulties" in SDQ was found between all 4 tests. In relation to quality of life, significant differences in the "Total score" (67.2±14.7) were reported by the children themselves. The motor performance improved after the intervention. The effect sizes and power were established. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study indicate that therapeutic horseback riding had a positive effect on 5 children with ADHD in several domains of the social role behavior, quality of life, and motor performance. This pilot study constitutes a good scientific prospect for future studies.

The influence of behavioural and health problems on alcohol and drug use in late adolescence - a follow up study of 2 399 young Norwegians.

BACKGROUND: Both early alcohol debut, behavioural and health problems are reported to enhance adolescence substance use. This prospective study investigate the influence of behavioural and health problems on adolescents' alcohol and drug use. METHOD: Prospective population based cohort study of 2 399 adolescents attending the Young-HUNT study, aged 13-15 at baseline in 1995/97, and 17-19 at follow-up 4 years later. Exposure variables were self reported conduct problems, attention problems, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and muscular pain and tension. Outcome variables at follow-up were frequent alcohol use and initiation of drug use. Associations were estimated by logistic regression models, influence of gender and drinking status at baseline were controlled for by stratification. RESULTS: At follow-up 19% of the students drank alcohol once a week or more frequently. Baseline conduct problems (OR 2.2, CI 1.7-3.0) and attention problems (OR 1.5, CI 1.2-2.0) increased the risk for frequent alcohol use at follow-up in the total population. Girls who had experienced alcohol-intoxications at baseline showed strong association between baseline problems and frequent alcohol use at follow-up. Conduct problems (OR 2.5, CI 1.3-4.8), attention problems (OR 2.1, CI 1.2-3.4), anxiety/depressive symptoms (OR 1.9, CI 1.1-3.1) and muscular pain and tension (OR 1.7, CI 1.0-2.9) all were associated with frequent alcohol use among early intoxicated girls.14% of the students had tried cannabis or other drugs at follow-up. Conduct problems at baseline increased the odds for drug use (OR 2.6, CI 1.9-3.6). Any alcohol intoxications at baseline, predicted both frequent alcohol use (boys OR 3.6, CI 2.4-5.2; girls OR 2.8, CI 1.9-4.1), and illegal drug use (boys OR 4.7; CI 3.2-7.0, girls OR 7.7, CI 5.2-11.5) within follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Conduct problems in high-school more than doubles the risk for both frequent alcohol use and initiation of drug use later in adolescence. The combination of health problems and alcohol intoxication in early adolescence was closely associated with more frequent drinking later in adolescence among girls.Overall, early alcohol intoxication was closely associated with both frequent alcohol use and drug use at follow up in both genders.

Alcohol use and physical health in adolescence: a general population survey of 8,983 young people in North-Trøndelag, Norway (the Young-HUNT study).

AIMS: To investigate the relationship between adolescents' alcohol use and physical health. DESIGN: A total population, cross-sectional survey of adolescents, aged 13-19 years, attending secondary or high school in Nord-Trøndelag County, Norway. 8,983 youths (91%) answered the Young-Hunt questionnaire in the 1995-1997 HUNT-survey. METHOD: Self-reported data mainly analyzed by logistic regression models. Findings 80% of the respondents had tried alcohol, and 29% reported more than 10 intoxications. Ill health perception was associated with frequent alcohol intoxications. Tension symptoms had the closest relationship to frequency of intoxications in both genders. Girls that frequently used health services had frequent alcohol intoxications. FUNDING: Central Norway Regional Health and the County Council of Nord-Trøndelag. CONCLUSIONS: There is a close association of physical health complaints and alcohol intoxication frequency in Norwegian teenagers. The study's limitations were noted.

Alcohol intoxication and mental health among adolescents--a population review of 8983 young people, 13-19 years in North-Trøndelag, Norway: the Young-HUNT Study.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to describe alcohol use among Norwegian teenagers and investigate the associations between mental health problems and alcohol intoxications with focus on age and gender. METHODS: Population based, cross-sectional survey addressing all adolescents aged 13-19 years, attending secondary or high school in North - Trøndelag County, Norway. 8983 youths (91%) answered the Young-HUNT questionnaire in the 1995-1997 survey. Logistic regression models were used to study associations. RESULTS: 80% of the respondents reported that they had tried drinking alcohol, and 57% had been intoxicated at least once. The proportion of the students, which had tried alcohol, was equal in both genders and increased with age. Attention problems and conduct problems were strongly associated with frequent alcohol intoxications in both genders. Anxiety and depressive symptoms among girls were also related to high numbers of intoxications CONCLUSION: Gender differences in number of alcohol intoxications were small. There was a close association between both conduct and attention problems and high alcohol consumption in both genders. Girls with symptoms of anxiety and depression reported more frequent alcohol intoxications.