Strong and positive parent–child relationships have
shown to be an essential part of the explanation as to why
substance use and delinquent behaviour vary across family
types. They may act as mediators in the association
between parental divorce and adolescents’ problem behaviour.
In certain situations, adolescents end up in using substances to
cope with the negative consequences of poor family relationships. On the other hand, a positive
parent–child relationship has shown to buffer negative
effects related to parental divorce.