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Paternal Relationship Quality as a Protective Factor: Preventing Alcohol Use Among African American Adolescents

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Melissa L. Lewis

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

This study examines the effects of father involvement on alcohol consumption in African American adolescents. A representative sample of 1,027 students was selected from a national longitudinal study of adolescents in grades 7 through 12. Family structure and relationship quality were examined for three groups of fathers: nonresidential fathers, residential fathers, and father figures. The study explores the extent to which a father’s presence and relationship quality serves as protective factors for adolescent alcohol use. The data supports the hypothesis that having a positive father-child relationship decreases the likelihood that an adolescent uses alcohol, and it is a greater deterrent to adolescent alcohol use than family structure. Through this study’s findings, it was determined that a positive child relationship is not dependent on whether or not the father resides in the home.

Key Words: African American • adolescents • substance use • father involvement • paternal relationship • family structure

Journal of Black Psychology, Vol. 31, No. 2, 152-171 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0095798405274881


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