Purpose: Parent characteristics and family processes during childhood have important emotional and behavioral consequences for young adults. Factors affecting the mental health and substance use behaviors of adolescents transitioning to adulthood are a concern among social work researchers. This study examined the relationship between parental mental health (i.e., depression), parental substance use, parenting style, and family conflict during childhood and the mental health and substance use behaviors of young adults later in life. The purpose of this research is to aid social workers in effectively targeting family interventions relevant to the prevention of mental health and substance use problems among emerging adults.

Methods: A secondary data analysis of the National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH) was conducted examining the relationship between parent characteristics (i.e., mental health and substance use behaviors) and family processes (parenting style and family conflict) at T1 (1987-1988) and the mental health and substance use behaviors of young adults five (T2) and ten (T3) years later. The study sample (n = 410) was comprised of young adults considered “emerging” (i.e., 18-23 years of age) at T2 for whom information was available at both follow-up interviews. The effect of parent characteristics and family processes on the mental health and substance use of young adults was assessed utilizing a lagged cross-panel structural equation model.

Results: Initial models excluding parenting style and family conflict found a significant relationship between parental mental health and the mental health of adolescent's transitioning to adulthood. However, when parenting style and family conflict were added to the model, a parent's mental health status was no longer an effective predictor of an emerging adult's mental health. Better mental health outcomes were indicated for young adults whose parents were positively reinforcing and attentive or monitoring. General conflict between a parent and child growing up indicated poorer mental health outcomes for the child later in life. Substance use among emerging adults was less likely if the child's parents were strong disciplinarians; however, substance use was more likely among young adults whose parents were overly attentive or monitoring. Conflict in the family during childhood, particularly when related to a child's emotional or rule breaking behavior (e.g., trouble with police, hard to raise), was directly related to increased substance use at both follow-up interviews.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that family processes may have a more significant effect on the mental health and substance use behaviors of emerging adults than parent characteristics. At the very least, these variables, parenting style and family conflict, have a mediating effect on the mental health and substance use behaviors of parents. Consequently, social work interventions designed to promote healthy parenting practices, and reduce or ameliorate family conflict, may indicate better mental health and substance use outcomes for emerging adults growing up with depressed or substance-using parents. The differential effect of services on such families is an area for future research.