3129.0: Monday, October 22, 2001 - 3:00 PM

Abstract #30179

Personality and substance use predictors of parenting distress

Barbara McCullough, PhD1, Karen F. Trocki, PHD2, Saki Cabrera Strait1, and Norman Turk, MS3. (1) Executive Director, East Bay Perinatal Council, Oakland, CA, 2648 International Blvd., Suite 801, Oakland, CA 94601, 510-437-8945, bbmccullough@ebpc.org, (2) Public Health ALcohol Research Group, Berkeley, CA, (3) Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, 2000 Hearst Avenue, Suite 300, Berkeley, CA 94709-2176

The paper investigates factors influencing parenting distress levels among a group of adolescent women who are pregnant or parenting. Data are from a group 212 pregnant/parenting teens at baseline data collection. Later, half of the teens became the experimental group in an intervention. The key dependent variable in this analysis is parenting stress, measured by the standardized instrument, the Parenting Stress Index. Analyses include demographic, alcohol use/context, personality/social support, and substance use context variables. A stepwise, multiple regression analysis was performed using the PSI overall score as the dependent variable. Among the demographic variables, only age entered the equation (younger parents were more distressed). Among the substance use/abuse variables, level of problems with alcohol and drugs did enter (+ relationship) but use of four of more drinks a month was a close alternate. Finally, measures of depression and impulsivity entered the equation (+ relationship). These variables accounted for 32% of the variance. Detection of higher risk teens is important when planning allocation of prevention and intervention resources. Adding measures of alcohol problems and impulse control might help to improve detection of teens most in need of services, and use of appropriate interventions may reduce both maternal and child risk. Funding agency: CSAP.

Learning objectives: At the conclusion, the listener will be able to: 1. Identify numerous risk factors for high levels of parenting distress. 2. Understand underlying theoretical connections between parenting distress and the predictors. 3. Use selected measurement techniques to improve identification of high-risk teens.

Learning Objectives: 1. identify numerous risk factors for high levels of parenting distress 2. understand underlying theoretical connections between parenting distress and the predictors 3. use selected measurement techniques to improve identification of high-risk teens

Keywords: Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Substance Abuse Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: East Bay Perinatal Council, Oakland, CA
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA