Alcohol-related problems, marital disruption and depressive symptoms among adult children of alcohol abusers in the United States.

Parker, Douglas A.; Harford, Thomas C.

doi:10.15288/jsa.1988.49.306

Cited by 63 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The interpersonal problems seen in childhood continue in adulthood with an increase in marital disruption observed in ACOAs (El-Guebaly et al, 1990;Hibbard, 1987;Parker & Harford, 1988). This disruption is independent of any problem drinking behavior in this population (Parker & Harford, 1988).…”

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confidence: 83%

“…'These problems include interpersonal and academic difficulties, a greater level of self-depreciationAower selfesteem, an increase in aggressive behavior, and difficulties with the police. Moreover, despite some claims to the contrary (e.g., Benson & Heller, 1987;Werner & Broida, 1991), many of these difficulties follow the children into adulthood (Beardslee et al, 1986;El-Guebaly, Walker, Ross, & Currie, 1990;Hibbard, 1987;Parker & Harford, 1988;Tweed & Ryff, 1991).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Personality characteristics of adult children of alcoholics

Baker

Stephenson

1995

J. Clin. Psychol.

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The study examined whether eight characteristics attributed to adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) by Woititz (1983) were supported by personality measures. The Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST) and nine scales from the California Personality Inventory and the 16‐PF were administered to 166 undergraduates. Forty‐nine (29%) of these subjects were identified as ACOAs. ACOAS' scores on the personality measures were compared to an age‐ and gender‐matched control group. No differences were identified between ACOA men and control men. ACOA women were found to be more flexible, impulsive, and pessimistic, with a sense of less wellbeing than control women. A significant discriminant function correctly classified 77.6% of the women subjects. This function indicated that easygoingness, independence, self‐assurance, and self‐directedness are associated with status as an ACOA for women.

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confidence: 83%

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confidence: 99%

Personality characteristics of adult children of alcoholics

Baker

Stephenson

1995

J. Clin. Psychol.

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“…A further study using a community sample is also reported by Parker and Harford (1988). In this study the authors reanalyze data from a national survey of drinking practices by adults in the United States.…”

Section: Community Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intergenerational Effects—A Review of Environmentally Oriented Studies Concerning the Relationship between Parental Alcohol Problems and Family Disharmony in the Genesis of Alcohol and Other Problems. I: The Intergenerational Effects of Alcohol Problems

Velleman

1992

International Journal of the Addictions

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“…Parker and Harford (1988) used a representative sample of 1,772 adults in the United States to examine the impact of parental alcoholism on alcohol-related problems, marital disruption, and depressive symptoms in ACOAs. Their results showed that having a parental history of alcoholism placed both sons and daughters at risk for later divorce or separation.…”

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confidence: 99%

Relationship Functioning Among Adult Children of Alcoholics

Kearns-Bodkin

Leonard

2008

J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs

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ABSTRACT. Objective:The purpose of the current research was to examine the impact of both maternal and paternal alcoholism on the relationship functioning of husbands and wives over the early years of marriage. Method: Couples (N = 634) were assessed at the time of marriage, and again at their fi rst, second, and fourth anniversaries. Husbands and wives completed separate, self-administered questionnaires at home. Results: Results of separate repeated measures analyses of covariance revealed that, for both husbands and wives, the appraisal of their marital relationship was associated with alcoholism in the opposite gender parent. That is, for husbands, alcoholism in the mother was associated with lower marital satisfaction across the 4 years of marriage. For wives, alcoholism in the father was related to lower marital intimacy. Husbands' physical aggression was infl uenced by mother's and father's alcoholism; high levels of physical aggression were present among men with alcoholic mothers and nonalcoholic fathers. Interestingly, wives' experience of husband's aggression was also highest among women with alcoholic mothers and nonalcoholic fathers. Wives also reported engaging in high levels of physical aggression when they had an alcoholic mother and a nonalcoholic father, but this effect was restricted to the early part of the marriage. Finally, parental alcoholism was associated with both husbands' and wives' attachment representations. Conclusions: The present fi ndings suggest that children raised in alcoholic families may carry the problematic effects of their early family environment into their adult romantic relationships. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs 69: [941][942][943][944][945][946][947][948][949][950] 2008) R ESEARCH INDICATES THAT children of alcoholics (COAs) are at increased risk for a variety of negative outcomes, including substance abuse, antisocial behavior, mood disorders (e.g., depression and anxiety), academic underachievement, low self-esteem, and relational diffi culties (e.g., Beesley and Stoltenberg, 2002;Chassin et al., 2002;Dawson, 2000;Harter, 2000;Jackson et al., 2000;Johnson and Leff, 1999). Perhaps one of the most common, yet controversial, claims made with regard to adult COAs (ACOAs) is that they experience signifi cant diffi culties with interpersonal functioning, particularly with the establishment and maintenance of intimate relationships (e.g., Larsen, 1985;Seixas and Youcha, 1985;Woititz, 1985), possibly because of the parenting practices of alcoholic parents. For example, Woititz (1985) has noted that alcoholic parents are often inconsistent with the affection they give their children, vacillating between demonstrations of love and warmth at certain times and rejection at other times. As a result, COAs learn from an early age not to trust people and experience persistent fears of abandonment. Thus, although ACOAs may desire love and intimacy, they are likely to be afraid that relationships in their adult lives will be as hurtful as their early relationships (Wood, 1987).These ...

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Alcohol-related problems, marital disruption and depressive symptoms among adult children of alcohol abusers in the United States.

Cited by 63 publications

References 15 publications

Personality characteristics of adult children of alcoholics

Personality characteristics of adult children of alcoholics

Intergenerational Effects—A Review of Environmentally Oriented Studies Concerning the Relationship between Parental Alcohol Problems and Family Disharmony in the Genesis of Alcohol and Other Problems. I: The Intergenerational Effects of Alcohol Problems

Relationship Functioning Among Adult Children of Alcoholics

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