parental communication patterns and self-esteem in adolescents with substance-abused parents and control group

background: as a social destructive phenomenon, substance abuse causes destruction of family structure and, most importantly, behavioural problems and psychological stress for children. therefore this study has been conducted to compare parental communication patterns and self-esteem between adolescents with substance-abused parents with control group.  materials and methods: in this descriptive-analytical study 200 adolescents with parental substance abuse and control group with healthy parents, were selected based on systematic randomization. the data collection tool used was the parental communication patterns scale, and coopersmith self- esteem inventory. the data were analyzed by spss 20 and chi-square, mann-whitney and student’s independent t-test. results: this study's results showed that, the mean age of the adolescents was 14.5±2.5 years in the case group, and 15.04±2.4 in the control group. independent t -test indicated that the control group's mean score for self-esteem was significantly higher than the case group’s (p < 0.001). also the mean score for conversation orientation dimension was significantly higher than the case group's, and the case group's mean score for conformity orientation dimension was significantly higher than the control groups (p < 0.001). conclusion: in the light of the current study's results, it is recommended the training sessions for family with parent’s substance abuse, about of communication patterns and their effects on family members' mental health was done.