Alcohol Use, Drinking Venue Utilization, and Child Physical Abuse: Results from a Pilot Study

Abstract

A positive relationship between parents’ drinking and child physical abuse has been established. This paper examines how a parent’s use of drinking locations is related to physical abuse. A convenience sample of 103 parents was answered questions on physical abuse with the Conflict Tactics Scale – Parent Child version (CTS-PC), current drinking behavior, and the frequency with which they drank at different venues, including bars and parties. Probit models were used to assess relationships between parent demographics, drinking patterns, places of drinking and CTS-PC scores. Frequent drinking, frequent drinking in bars, parties in a parent’s own home, and frequent drinking at friends’ homes were positively related to child physical abuse. Drinking locations are related to child physical abuse. This suggests that time spent in these venues provides opportunities to mix with individuals that may share the same attitudes and norms towards acting violently.