Female Adult Children Of Alcoholics Research Articles

Parent’s alcoholism severity and family topic avoidance about alcohol as predictors of perceived stigma among adult children of alcoholics: Implications for emotional and psychological resilience

ABSTRACTAlcoholism is a highly stigmatized condition, with both alcohol-dependent individuals and family members of the afflicted experiencing stigmatization. This study examined the severity of a parent’s alcoholism and family topic avoidance about alcohol as two factors that are associated with family members’ perceptions of stigma. Three dimensions of stigma were considered: discrimination stigma, disclosure stigma, and positive aspect stigma. In addition, this study assessed associations between perceived stigmatization and individuals’ experiences of depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and resilience. Adult children of alcoholics (N = 622) were surveyed about family conditions, perceived stigma, and their emotional and psychological well-being. Regression analyses revealed that the severity of a parent’s alcoholism predicted all three types of stigma for females, but not for males. In addition, family topic avoidance about alcohol predicted all types of stigma for males and discrimination stigma and positive aspect stigma for females. With few exceptions, the three types of stigma predicted depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and resilience for both male and female adult children of alcoholics. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for promoting a family environment that mitigates stigma and encourages emotional and psychological well-being.In 2012, approximately 3.3 million deaths worldwide were due to the harmful use of alcohol (World Health Organization [WHO], 2014). Individuals who abuse alcohol are susceptible to a variety of negative health outcomes (Rehm et al., 2009) and display inappropriate social behaviors (Klingemann, 2001; Schomerus et al., 2011a). General societal perceptions tend to characterize alcohol-dependent individuals as irresponsible and lacking in self-control (Schomerus et al., 2011b). Research in the United Kingdom found that 54% of the population believes alcohol-dependent individuals are personally to blame for their own problems (Crisp, Gelder, Goddard, & Meltzer, 2005). In the United States, a person’s own bad character or the way they were raised are more likely to be identified as reasons for alcoholism than they are for other types of mental illness (Schnittker, 2008). In addition, people prefer greater social distance between themselves and alcoholics than between themselves and people with mental illness (Crisp et al., 2005). The negative social perceptions of alcoholics likely contribute to feelings of stigma (Room, 2005). Not only does stigma affect the afflicted individual, but also members of his or her family (WHO, 2014). Children of parents with an alcohol dependency may be reluctant to discuss a parent’s alcoholism with others if they feel pressured to keep it a secret or to avoid negative stereotypes (Afifi & Olson, 2005; Burk & Sher, 1990; Caughlin & Petronio, 2004; Lam & O’Farrell, 2011). Thus, the stigma of a parent’s alcoholism may prevent children from addressing concerns and coping with their surroundings.

Psychological birth – the separation-individuation process among female Adult Children of Alcoholics

IntroductionThe research aims to answer the following question: What are the dynamics of the separation-individuation process (according to Margaret Mahler's theory) in women who are Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACoA) in comparison to women who did not experience a parent's alcoholism in their childhood. The authors state that children of alcohol-dependent parents may experience relational traumas and this may inhibit the separation-individuation process. The study also seeks to answer whether there are relations between the severity of the difficulties in the area of separation-individuation and parentification (role reversal) in the past and in the present parentification of ACoA women. MethodResearch was conducted on 110 women (55 from an experimental group and 55 from a control group). The following tools were used to measure the variables: Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST) by Jones and Pilat and the PATHSEP questionnaire by Lapsley for estimating the dynamics of the separation-individuation process. A questionnaire FRS-A (Filial Responsibility Scale for Adults) by Jurkovic and Thirkield to study levels of parentification was also used. ResultsThe results of the study have shown that distortions in the separation-individuation process occur more often in women with the ACoA syndrome compared to women who did not grow up in alcoholic families. In the ACoA group the sense of injustice associated with parentification in the past was a mediator of the relation between difficulties in the separation-individuation process and current sense of injustice. Discussion and conclusionsThe analysis of the results of this study serves as a valuable guide for work with women who experienced a parent's alcoholism in their childhood. It seems relevant that educational and therapeutic work with these women should include the component of regaining their intrapsychic and interpersonal individuality.

Mothers’ Versus Fathers’ Alcohol Abuse and Attachment in Adult Daughters of Alcoholics

Gender of the alcohol-abusing parent was examined in relation to general and romantic attachment (as measured by the Experiences in Close Relationships—Revised and the Relationship Scales Questionnaire) in female adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs; as indicated by the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test) as compared to non-ACOAs. As compared to non-ACOAs, ACOAs reported more anxious and avoidant behaviors in their romantic relationships. Female participants who suspected their mother of alcohol abuse reported significantly greater avoidance within romantic relationships as compared to those who suspected neither parent of having an alcohol problem. No differences emerged in relation to general attachment.

Mother–Daughter and Father–Daughter Attachment of College Student ACOAs

This 2005 study compared parent–child attachment in 89 American female Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOAs) as compared to 201 non-ACOAs. Women attended a large university in the southeastern United States. Participants categorized as ACOA on the Children of Alcoholics Screen Test (CAST; ) reported significantly more negative affect and less support from their fathers as indicated on the Parental Attachment Questionnaire (). When results were examined by the gender of the alcohol-abusing parent, participants who suspected their fathers were problem drinkers did not differ from non-ACOAs in their attachment to either parent. As compared to non-ACOAs, women who self-identified as daughters of problem-drinking mothers reported poorer attachment both to mothers and fathers.

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.

Dating Behaviors, Attitudes, and Relationships Satisfaction of Young Adult Children of Alcoholics

The dating behaviors, attitudes, and relationship satisfaction of a nonclinical sample of single young adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) (n = 172) were compared to a sample of nonACOAs (n = 771). Subjects completed measures of dating behaviors, anxiety, intimacy, trust, commitment and relationship satisfaction. ACOAs began dating at a significantly younger age and dated significantly fewer individuals than nonACOAs. They also reported significantly more dating anxiety than nonACOAs. Male ACOAs reported less commitment, intellectual intimacy, trust and relationship satisfaction than male nonACOAs. Compared to nonACOAs, female ACOAs reported no differences on these variables. The results provide some support for research suggesting that ACOAs may experience difficulties in their opposite-sex intimate relationships.

Alcohol dependence in adult children of alcoholics: longitudinal evidence of early risk.

This study investigates familial alcoholism effects and the comparative probability of risk for alcohol dependence in adult children of alcoholics (ACAs) with a control group of non-ACAs. A cohort of 12,686 young adults from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) is examined over a five-year period and conventional and lineal intergenerational models of alcoholism transmission are assessed. The results of multivariate logistic regression analyses indicate that the risk is relatively greater for male ACAs; sons of alcoholics drink significantly more heavily, experience problems earlier, and develop alcohol dependence more extensively than female ACAs or non-ACAs of either gender. The extent of dependence found in subjects with a lineal history of alcoholism on the father's side of the family, as well as heavy drinking, cigarette smoking and drinking onset in adolescence should be considered as critical predisposing factors of high risk for dependence at later ages. These observations corroborate clinical studies and support a growing body of biopsychosocial research literature.

Shame and depression proneness among female adult children of alcoholics.

Although recent clinical literature has posited that both shame and depression are important aspects in the treatment of adult children of alcoholics (ACAs), proneness to shame and depression in this group remains underexamined. This study tests the hypotheses that ACAs are more prone to shame and depression than non-ACAs. The sample consisted of 60 women--30 ACAs and 30 non-ACAs--who were 22 to 55 years old during the study period and had begun treatment within the past 6 months. The dependent measures were the Depression Proneness Rating Scale and the Adapted Shame/Guilt Scale. Female ACAs were found to be more depression prone than non-ACAs (p < .05), and the difference was not explained by any of the other variables studied. Contrary to expectations, they were not found to be more shame prone. The results are discussed as they relate to alternative hypotheses, clinical implications, and future research.

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.

Intrapersonal and interpersonal functioning among middle-aged female adult children of alcoholics.

This study examined group differences among a middle-aged, middle-class, community sample (N = 616) of female adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) and female non-ACOAs with regard to features of intra- and interpersonal functioning. Consistent with previous research, ACOAs reported higher levels of depression and lower levels of self-esteem. ACOAs also reported lower levels of perceived social support, family cohesion, and marital satisfaction and higher levels of marital conflict. ACOAs also indicated more parental role distress and perceived themselves as more powerless than non-ACOAs to control the actions of their offspring. ACOAs were more likely to drink for coping purposes (e.g., to relieve stress), although their level of alcohol consumption did not differ significantly from that of non-ACOAs. Although consistent differences were indicated between groups, ACOAs were still functioning in the nonpathological range on all measures.

Intrapersonal and interpersonal functioning among middle-aged female adult children of alcoholics.

This study examined group differences among a middle-aged, middle-class, community sample (N = 616) of female adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) and female non-ACOAs with regard to features of intra- and interpersonal functioning. Consistent with previous research, ACOAs reported higher levels of depression and lower levels of self-esteem. ACOAs also reported lower levels of perceived social support, family cohesion, and marital satisfaction and higher levels of marital conflict. ACOAs also indicated more parental role distress and perceived themselves as more powerless than non-ACOAs to control the actions of their offspring. ACOAs were more likely to drink for coping purposes (e.g., to relieve stress), although their level of alcohol consumption did not differ significantly from that of non-ACOAs. Although consistent differences were indicated between groups, ACOAs were still functioning in the nonpathological range on all measures.

Generational boundary distortions by adult children of alcoholics: Child-as-parent and child-as-mate

Abstract The present study examined whether adult male and female children of alcoholic and nonalcoholic parents (N=30/group) differentially exhibit generational boundary distortions. On an objective parentification measure, the female adult children of alcoholics showed significant signs of having assumed excessive caretaking responsibilities in their families-of-origin. A subsample was also administered a projective measure of boundary distortions (child-as-parent and child-as-mate). Significantly more male and female adult children of alcoholics exhibited distortions than the comparison group. Differential results for male and female adult children of alcoholics on the objective and projective indices of boundary distortions are discussed.

Sexual Dysfunction in Female Adult Children of Alcoholics

This study investigated sexual dysfunction and selected related characteristics attributed to female adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs). Using a variety of established measures, data were collected on 30 female ACOAs and 30 non-ACOA control subjects from the general population. The results indicated that female ACOAs manifested lower self-esteem, more distrust, and more sexual dysfunction, compared to the control subjects. These findings provide strong empirical evidence that female ACOAs may be at high risk for experiencing sexual problems.