Children Of Nonalcoholics Research Articles

Anxiety, depression, self-esteem among children of alcoholic and nonalcoholic parents.

Context:Children of alcoholics (COAs) face risks of behavioral problems during childhood and mental health problems in adult life. Identifying these problems at the earliest can significantly reduce the problems in future.Aims:To compare the anxiety, depression, and self-esteem between COA and non-COA parents.Settings and Design:A cross-sectional comparative survey research design was adopted for the present study. The study was conducted at selected government high school located in Bangalore urban.Subjects and Methods:The simple random sampling technique was used. A total of 200 children comprising 100 children of each alcoholic parents and nonalcoholic were recruited for the study. A screening test (modified) was used for identifying COA. Spence Children's Anxiety Scale, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were used to assess anxiety, depression, and self-esteem, respectively.Statistical Analysis Used:Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software package (version 23).Results:The results show that there is statistically significant difference between COA and non-COA group with regard to anxiety, depression, self-esteem, separation anxiety, social phobia, obsessive compulsive problems, and physical injury.Conclusion:The study concludes that COAs are having higher rate of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem compared with children of nonalcoholics.

Setting the Children’s Teeth on Edge? The Influence of Parental Alcoholism on Children’s Wellbeing

The research on the impact of alcoholism on the family indicates that alcoholism often poses threat to the wellbeing of the family, the most affected ones being the other spouse and the children. Alcoholism often poses serious risk to the emotional, cognitive, behavioural, physical and social wellbeing of the abuser, the partner and the children. Most of the researches have explored the impact of parental alcoholism on the negative outcome on psychosocial development of partners and children, very few documented studies have been carried out on the positive aspects of life such as wellbeing and futuristic hope in the children of alcoholic parents (COA). This study attempts to explore the relationship and the difference between QOL and Hope in COA and children of non-alcoholics (CONA). The study was conducted on a sample of 60 children each between the age of 12 to 15 from alcoholics and non-alcoholic parents drawn from a district of Kerala using purposive sampling technique. The measures used were QOL-BREF by WHO (1996) and Children Hope Scale (CHS) by Snyder et al. (1996). The data was first analyzed using the descriptive statistics, the normality of the data was checked using Shapiro Wilk test, Mann-Whitney U test was used to find the difference between the COA and CONA on QOL and Hope. The relationship between the variables was assed using Spearman rank correlation. The results of the study indicate that there is significant difference in QOL among the children of alcoholics and non-alcoholics. The COA demonstrated comparatively less Hope than the CONA, however there was no significant difference among them. The QOL and Hope were correlated only among the CONA. The study has implication for positive intervention for the COA, parental and school based interventions such as preventive, remedial and holistic counselling or therapy.

부모의 음주문제와 자녀의 행동 및 심리사회적 특성

Objectives: Alcohol problems of parents have an influence on not only their psychological problems but also on their children's psychosocial adaptation. The purpose of this study was to compare the emotional and behavioral problems, including school bullying and social skills, between children of alcoholics (COAs) and children of non-alcoholics (non-COAs). Methods: We recruited <TEX>$4^{th}$</TEX> grade children (n=741) from 7 primary schools in Seoul and their parents as subjects. The self-rated psychiatric symptoms were assessed with the Korean version of the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST-K), the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), the Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale (RSES), the School Bullying Scale, the Social Skill Rating Scale and the Korean version of Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire-Adolescent (AEQ-A). The Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale-IV (ARS) was completed by the parents. Results: 518 children were non-COAs and 223 were COAs. The COAs showed higher CDI and ARS-IV scores and lower RSES scores than the non-COAs. Especially, the COAs also showed higher school bullying scale scores and lower cooperative scale scores on the social skill rating scales. But there was no difference of alcohol expectancy between the COAs and non-COAs. Conclusion: It was plausible that the COAs had more behavioral & psychosocial problems than the non-COAs among the school aged children. It is important to identify and intervene to solve the problems of peer relationships of school age COAs in order to prevent victimization by bullying and to improve psychosocial adaptation.

P01-17 - Expressed emotion and parental attitudes toward children of alcoholics

IntroductionIndividuals who grow up in alcoholic families seem to have a family environment and climate different from those who grow up in non alcoholic families.ObjectivesData on expressed emotion and parental attitudes in alcoholic family are lacking.AimsStudy the level of expressed emotion and the parental attitudes in children of alcoholics (COAs) compared with children of non alcoholics (non COAs).MethodsThe Level of Expressed Emotion Scale (LEES) and the Parental Attitudes Scale (PAD) were used to measure respectively the expressed emotion and the family climate. The LEES was filled by the COAs or by the non COAs; the PAD was filled by their significant parent. COAs and non COAs were matched for age and gender.ResultsCOAs perceived a statistically lower level of intrusiveness from their parents and a significantly higher emotional response and attitudes toward illness from their parents than non COAs. According to the PAD, there was no difference in the family climate between the two groups. When correlations between LEES and PAD were evaluated, among COAs high level of expressed tolerance (LEES tolerance/expectation subscale) was significantly correlated with a low dominance in the children (PAD Dominance/Submissiveness); among controls, high level of expressed emotion (LEES total score) was significantly correlated with lower pleasure in the children (PAD Pleasure/Displeasure subscale).ConclusionsCOAs and non COAs seem to perceive the emotion expressed in their family environment differently and correlate it with their parental attitudes according to a different pattern.

Association study of dopamine D2, D4 receptor gene, GABAA receptor β subunit gene, serotonin transporter gene polymorphism with children of alcoholics in Korea: A preliminary study

The studies on the genetic risk factors of the children of alcoholics (COAs) are still in an early stage. The A1 allele of the dopamine receptor 2 gene ( DRD2) may be associated with positive alcohol expectancy of the COAs. In addition, several researchers reported that the COAs might be associated with the GABA A receptor β3 subunit gene ( GABRB3) and serotonin transporter gene ( 5-HTTLPR). In this study, we investigated the association of the polymorphism of the DRD2, Dopamine D4 receptor gene ( DRD4), GABRB3, 5-HTTLPR with the COAs. Twenty-two COAs and 23 age and sex-matched control children were included for the genetic study (children of nonAlcoholics; nonCOAs). All COAs aged 6–18 were recruited and selected from family of alcoholic patients in Alcohol Clinic of the University hospital. The genotyping of the DRD2, DRD4, GABRB3, 5-HTTLPR was carried out. We used the Chi-square method for evaluating the association of genetic polymorphic allelic status with the COAs. The frequency of the A1+ allele at DRD2 in the COAs was significantly higher than nonCOAs. Significant association between the genotype at DRD4 and the COAs was found. The G1− alleles of the GABRB3 in COAs were significantly higher than nonCOAs. However, no association of the polymorphic alleles of the 5-HTTLPR with the COAs was found. We found that the children of alcoholics had a significantly increased number of risk alleles of candidate genes of alcohol drinking expectancy. Despite of several limitations, this study provides some preliminary information on the risk and protective factors associated with the COAs, which can be used as a foundation for prevention and intervention of future psychopathology.

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.

Biphasic stimulant and sedative effects of ethanol: Are children of alcoholics really different?

Children of alcoholics (COAs) have an increased risk of developing alcoholism themselves. The mechanisms responsible are not yet known. One compelling theory postulates that COAs may have an increased sensitivity to the stimulant effects of alcohol during the ascending limb of the blood alcohol curve combined with a decreased sensitivity to the putatively undesirable sedative effects of the drug during the descending limb, providing a particularly strong motivation to drink. Consistent with this theory, we hypothesized that compared to children of nonalcoholics (CONAs), COAs would display higher levels of ascending limb stimulation and lower levels of descending limb sedation. In the present study, 100 college students, who were either COAs ( n=18) or CONAs ( n=82), completed the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (a self-report measure of stimulation and sedation): (1) before consuming 0.85n ml/kg ethanol; (2) during the ascending limb of their BAC, and; (3) during the descending limb of their BAC. Although findings indicated that COAs and CONAs had comparable levels of sedation at each time point, a significant Group×Time interaction ( P<.02) indicated that COAs had greater increases in stimulation from baseline than CONAs, providing partial support for our hypothesis. Interestingly, simple effects analyses revealed that COAs had lower baseline levels of stimulation but almost identical levels of ascending and descending limb stimulation as CONAs, suggesting that increased sensitivity to alcohol among COAs may be the result of baseline understimulation. Overall, findings suggest that theorized differences between COAs and CONAs may be due in part to broader trait differences or other nonpharmacological factors.

Positive and negative associations with alcohol and familial risk for alcoholism.

Considerable evidence indicates that cognitions regarding favorable drinking consequences figure prominently in the development of problem drinking. Because children of alcoholics (COAs) are at particularly high risk for developing drinking problems, the authors hypothesized that they would have higher levels of such cognitions than children of nonalcoholics (CONAs). The authors administered a free-recall task consisting of alcohol, positive, negative, and neutral words to 100 college students and predicted that COAs (n = 18) would have higher levels of positive associations (measured by contiguous recall) and lower levels of negative associations with alcohol than would CONAs (n = 82). The results indicated that although COAs had significantly fewer negative associations than CONAs they had statistically comparable levels of positive associations. Early intervention efforts among COAs may be enhanced by placing increased emphasis on alcohol's negative consequences.

Children of Alcoholics Exhibit Attenuated Cognitive Impairment During an Ethanol Challenge

In an attempt to identify markers potentially related to the development of problem drinking, we examined cognitive functioning in children of alcoholics (COAs) and children of nonalcoholics, both while sober and after consuming 0.85 ml/kg of ethanol. Consonant with previous research indicating that COAs exhibit less intense responses to alcohol, we predicted that COAs would experience attenuated cognitive deficits while intoxicated. Male (n = 71) and female (n = 29) college students completed tests of contextual and rote memory recall in a repeated-measures design. Findings indicated that intoxication impaired both memory and attentional capacities, and that COAs exhibited attenuated cognitive deficits relative to children of nonalcoholics. Results were consistent with previous research demonstrating attenuated responses to alcohol in COAs. Potential mechanisms for the pathogenesis of problem drinking are discussed.

Parentification, parental alcoholism, and academic status among young adults

This study examined 360 young adults in terms of their perceptions of having assumed a parentified role in their family of origin as a function of academic status and classification as children of alcoholics or nonalcoholics. Low academic status participants reported having experienced greater caretaking responsibilities and worries in their families than those admitted into a regular academic undergraduate program. Respondents who had an alcoholic parent scored higher on the parentification measure than those who were children of problem drinkers and children of nonalcoholics.

A Comparison of Family of Origin Factors between Children of Alcoholics and Children of Non-alcoholics in a Longitudinal Panel

Secondary analysis of longitudinal panel data reveals minimal differences in family of origin factors between children of alcoholics (COAs) and children of non-alcoholics (non-COAs). From 220 subjects, 37 parents were identified as alcoholic. The COA subjects′ retrospective reports about family of origin factors were compared to those of non-COAs. Contrary to the assertions of the COA clinical literature, few differences were found between the two groups. However, these differences are congruent with the findings of other panel studies which have investigated family of origin factors and adult outcome among COAs.

Parental Alcoholism and Percieved Levels of Family Health Among College Freshmen

This study investigated the influence of parental alcoholism on 593 freshman students at an urban, non-residential, southeastern university to determine how collegiate children of alcoholics (COAs), problem drinkers, and non-alcoholics (nonCOAs) differed in their perceptions of family health as indicated by the Family of Origin Scale (FOS). These three groups of offspring differed significantly in their perception of family health as measured by the scale's constructs of autonomy and intimacy and on various items within each construct. Children of alcoholics and problem drinkers scored lower on each construct and its related items, indicating that COAs perceived their families as less healthy when compared to the perceptions of children of non-alcoholics.

Parental Alcoholism and Coping: A Comparison of Female Children of Alcoholics With Female Children of Nonalcoholics

The authors assessed potential differences between children of alcoholics and children of nonalcoholics in depression and choice of coping strategies. Although significant group differences were detected for level of depression, mean depression scores for both groups fell within the no depression range on the Beck Depression Inventory. No significant differences in coping strategies were detected.

Alcohol schema acquisition in preschoolers: differences between children of alcoholics and children of nonalcoholics.

Cognitive schemas provide the structure within which children organize their knowledge and beliefs about the use of alcohol. The development of schemas about alcohol should be affected both by age and parental patterns of alcohol use. We examined differences in alcohol schema development among 139 male children of alcoholics (COAs) and 82 controls [children of nonalcoholics (NCOAs)] utilizing the Appropriate Beverage Task as an indicator of these processes. Overall, the vast majority of the sample identified at least one alcoholic beverage from photographs, even at age 3. COAs were more likely to identify at least one alcoholic beverage. With age controlled, COAs were better able to identify specific alcoholic beverages and correctly identified a larger number of alcoholic beverages. There was a trend for these children of alcoholic men to attribute more alcoholic beverage use to male adults than NCOAs. Moreover, differences in these children's attributions of alcoholic consummatory behavior were predicted by their parents' current consumption levels. Results provide evidence that alcohol schemas are detectable in early childhood and are more common in children from alcoholic homes. Discussion focuses on the potential relevance of these risk attributes to the development of more fully formed alcohol expectancies and to the later emergence of alcohol-related difficulty.

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.

Is having an alcoholic father hazardous for children's physical health?

Five hundred and ninety-nine French-Canadian pre-adolescent children for whom the alcoholic status of the parents was known were subdivided into eight groups, according to family structure (intact, non-intact), alcoholic status of the father (alcoholic, non-alcoholic) and gender of the target child (girl, boy). ANCOVAs were conducted (controlling for income, a factor which contributes to illness) for health-related variables in order to test the hypothesis that children of alcoholic fathers have more physical health problems compared to children without alcoholic fathers. Data pertaining to use of medical services, serious and minor illnesses and pregnancy-related events were analysed. It was found that overall, pre-adolescent children of alcoholics were not more ill than children of non-alcoholics. There were, however, some differences worthy of note. Children of alcoholics had significantly lower birthweights than the children of non-alcoholics. Boys in non-intact alcoholic families were of shorter stature than the other children. A three-way interaction showed that daughters of alcoholics and sons of non-alcoholics living in non-intact families were more likely to have used psychologists' services, as were sons of alcoholics in intact families. The results were discussed in terms of the heterogeneity of alcoholic families as well as the need to identify subgroups of children of alcoholics who are at risk.

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.

A possible genetic association between PROP-tasting and alcoholism

Fifty-five young adult subjects and their parents were classified as alcoholic or nonalcoholic based on a standardized questionnaire (the MAST) filled out by the subjects. Subjects' thresholds for detection of 6- n-propylthiouracil (PROP; a PTC-like compound) were determined with the experimenter blind to MAST responses. There was a significantly higher proportion of nontasters of PROP among children of alcoholics than among children of nonalcoholics. There was no relationship between the child's alcoholism status and ability to taste PROP. These results are inconsistent with the view that excessive use of alcohol causes the association between nontasting and alcoholism and are consistent with the view that there is a genetic association between PROP/PTC-tasting and alcoholism.

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.

Characteristics of children of alcoholics: Putative risk factors, substance use and abuse, and psychopathology.

A sample of 253 children of alcoholics (COAs) and 237 children of nonalcoholics (non-COAs) were compared on alcohol and drug use, psychopathology, cognitive ability, and personality. COAs reported more alcohol and drug problems, stronger alcohol expectancies, higher levels of behavioral undercontrol and neuroticism, and more psychiatric distress in relation to non-COAs. They also evidenced lower academic achievement and less verbal ability than non-COAs. COAs were given Diagnostic Interview Schedule alcohol diagnoses more frequently than non-COAs. The relation between paternal alcoholism and offspring alcohol involvement was mediated by behavioral undercontrol and alcohol expectancies. Although gender differences were found, there were few Gender X Family History interactions; the effects of family history of alcoholism were similar for men and women. When gender effects were found, they showed greater family history effects for women.