Considerable attention has focused on the role of family dysfunction in the development of adolescent substance abuse, particularly in families where a parent has a history of alcohol and drug abuse. This study examined parental reports of dissatisfaction with 41 boys (ages 10-12) of fathers with a history of substance abuse (SA+) and 68 boys of fathers without such a history (SA-). Higher dissatisfaction ratings by both mothers and fathers were found in the SASA+group in contrast to the SA-group. Both child externalizing behavior problems and parental personality characteristics were correlated with dissatisfaction. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that father's negative affectivity, followed by externalizing symptoms in the boys, were most predictive of dissatisfaction in both mothers and fathers. The implications of these results for an understanding of the adverse family context of substance abuse are discussed.