| Personal pre-disposing factors |
| Biological |
| -Pre natal-mother consumed alcohol throughout pregnancy. A sibling with a history of heroin dependence may suggest genetic loading towards addiction. |
| Psychological |
| -Low self esteem, thrill seeking and poor impulse control. |
| Contextual pre-disposing factors |
| Parent-child factors in early life |
| -For as long as Alan remembers both parents consumed alcohol most evenings, either at home or at the local pub. Alan was often supervised by his older siblings, which often meant he had a lot of autonomy and was not exposed to optimal parental supervision. |
| Exposure to family problems in early life |
| -Sibling substance abuse and dependence. |
| Stresses in early life |
| -Social disadvantage. Possible sub- optimal or contradictory parental supervision, direction and social controls. |
| Personal maintaining factors |
| Psychological |
| -Low self-efficacy. Poor problem solving and planning. |
| -Dysfunctional coping strategies (staying in room – smoking cannabis) |
| Contextual maintaining factors |
| Treatment system |
| -Mother is ambivalent about resolving the problem. |
| Family system factors |
| -Inconsistent parental styles (Mum is authoritarian, while Dad is laissez-faire). |
| Parental factors |
| -Mother and father drink most evening either at home or at the local pub. |
| -Low parental self-efficacy (by own admission mother found it difficult to cope). |
| Social network |
| -Negative Peer Group (engagement in crime, high level of cannabis use) |
| -Conflicting social networks (positive sports involvement, negative peer group). |
| -Negative participation in school system (does not respond well to authority). |
| Personal protecting factors |
| Biological |
| -Good physical health. |
| Psychological |
| -High IQ – does well with academic exercises. |
| Social |
| -Plays high level football (first division Irish team). |
| Contextual protective factors |
| Treatment system |
| -Mother accepts there is a problem. |
| -Both parents have coped with similar issues with eldest daughter. |
| Family system factors |
| -Authoritative parenting (maternal) versus laissez-faire (paternal). |
| Parental factors |
| -Parents get along well. |
| Social network |
| -Good adjustment. |
| -High level sports participation and well accepted amongst peers. |