Abstract

The purpose of these studies were to investigate the mediating effect of inter-parental conflict and family functioning on the relations of father's problem drinking to child adjustment. Study 1 was to assess the relations among father's problem drinking, inter-parental conflict, family functioning, and child adjustment. Participants were 143 students of a middle school. Results suggested a possibility that inter-parental conflict and family functioning might mediate the relation of father's problem drinking to child adjustment. Study 2 was to determine whether inter-parental conflict and family functioning mediated the relation of father's problem drinking to child adjustment. Participants were 140 middle school students. Structural analysis was used to specify the relation among father's problem drinking, inter-parental conflict, family functioning, and child adjustment. Inter-parental conflict and family functioning appeared to mediate the relations of father's problem drinking to child adjustment. Results of these studies suggested positive inter-parental relation may enhance family functioning, which in turn may enhance child adjustment attenuating the negative effect of father's problem drinking. Limitation of these studies and further study directions were also discussed.