Adult Children Of Nonalcoholics Research Articles

The effects of family‐of‐origin alcohol abuse on the self‐perceived communication competence of the children

This study compared the self‐perceived communication competency of children raised in a family where alcohol was abused and children raised in a family where alcohol was not abused. Results indicated that, in general, adult children of alcoholics perceive that they are less competent communicators than adult children of nonalcoholics; however, compared to male children of nonalcoholics, children of alcoholics perceive that they pretend to listen more and are more supportive and cooperative listeners. Contrary to prior research, results indicated no significant differences between male and female adult children of alcoholics with respect to their self‐perceived communication competence. Implications of these results are discussed with regards to how they reflect the environment of families where alcohol is abused.

Parental alcohol abuse and gender as predictors of psychopathology in adult children of alcoholics

By means of procedures designed to address methodological weaknesses of previous research, this study tested hypotheses regarding the presumed greater tendency of adult children of alcoholics (ACA) to be characterized by symptomatology indicative of psychopathology than adult children of nonalcoholics (ACNA). Gender of ACA and gender of alcoholic parent were also examined as predictors of psychopathology in ACA. Fourhundred-twenty-five undergraduate students completed the Clinical Analysis Questionnaire to assess anxiety, depression, and general maladjustment, and the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test to identify ACA (88 females, 30 males) and ACNA (235 females, 72 males). ACA reported more symptomatology indicative of depression and general maladjustment than did ACNA, but gender of ACA and gender of alcoholic parent were not significant predictors of psychopathology among ACA.

Adult Children of Alcoholics In and Out of Psychotherapy: Issues of Intimacy and Interpersonal Relationships1

We examined differences between treatment‐seeking and nontreatment‐seeking adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) and adult children of nonalcoholics (ACONAs) in regard to numerous aspects of interpersonal and intimate relationships. The subjects were 278 college students, aged 18 to 34. Consistent with many other studies, there were numerous differences between ACOAs in treatment and ACONAs not in treatment, although further analyses confirmed the methodological flaw and confound in such comparisons. There were no significant interactions between ACOA and treatment status, nor between ACOAs and ACONAs, regardless of treatment status, with only one likely chance exception of self‐regard (ACONAs not in treatment reported higher self‐regard than did ACOAs not in treatment). Finally, those seeking treatment reported significantly less affectional expression, lower self‐regard, more depressive traits, and less dating competence and assertiveness compared to those not in treatment regardless of ACOA status. Therefore, treatment‐seeking status and not ACOA status account for intimacy and interpersonal problems in this study and probably many others.

Intimacy, loneliness, and openness to feelings in adult children of alcoholics.

This article examines whether adult children of alcoholics (ACAs) have more problems with intimacy, loneliness, and openness to their own feelings than adult children of nonalcoholics (ACNAs). A sample of 76 adults ages 25 to 40 was drawn from the membership of a church. No subjects were preidentified as being ACAs. Subjects completed an 89-item questionnaire that included four standardized instruments. ACAs were found to be experiencing significantly less intimacy in their closest current relationship than ACNAs. Significant associations were found among the major variables of intimacy, loneliness, and openness to feelings, although correlations were much stronger for ACNAs, suggesting different relationships among the variables for the two groups. Models for the prediction of intimacy and loneliness were constructed in which a significant amount of the variance for both variables was predicted.

Attachment among adult children of alcoholics

Disturbed or impoverished relationships have been identified as a predominant feature of adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs). Recently, the concept of co-dependency has been advanced to depict the interpersonal difficulties of these individuals, but lacks definitional rigor. The notion that childhood experiences with parents are 'carried forward' to affect attitudes and behaviors relevant to later intimate relationships is also consistent with attachment theory. This study examined the patterns of attachment of ACOAs as compared to adult children of non alcoholics (ACONAs). A cross-sectional sample of 203 individuals attending either a short term hospital based outpatient psychiatric program or a community based alcoholism treatment program was included in this study. Results supported the hypothesis that female ACOAs had a distinctive dysfunctional attachment profile. There were no significant differences in the attachment styles of male ACOAs as compared to ACONAs, or male substance abusers as compared to non-abusers.

Psychological Adjustment Among Hispanic Adult Children of Alcoholics: An Exploratory Study

This study compared 44 Hispanic adult children of alcoholics (ACAs) with 33 Hispanic adult children of nonalcoholics on the Diagnostic Inventory of Personality and Symptoms (DIPS), with parental alcoholism and gender as independent variables. There were significant differences in the Somatoform Disorders scale and in the Psychological FactorsAffecting Physical Condition scale with children of alcoholics displaying higher scores than children of nonalcoholics. There were significant differences in the Affective Depressed scale, the Anxiety Disorders scale, and the Neurotic Character scale with women displaying higher scores than men on all three scales. There were no significant interactions for any of the DIPS scales.

Evangelical Christian Adult Children of Alcoholics: A Preliminary Study

Using the Sixteen Personality Factor Test evangelical Christian adult children of alcoholics and nonalcoholics from 17 Protestant churches in Ohio, California, and Illinois were compared on five personality characteristics. Mean scores were analyzed by t-tests, and adult children of alcoholics (ACAs) measured significantly more depressed, distrusting, and self-blaming than adult children of nonalcoholics (NACAs). Self-reported religious problems were investigated also. These religious problems were in the areas of experiencing God's love and forgiveness, trusting God's will, believing biblical promises, and forgiving others. Chi-square tests were used to determine which of the four problem areas differed significantly. The first three differed at p<.001 and the last at p<.01, with ACAs reporting more problems than NACAs. These findings are discussed and suggestions for further research are presented.