Children of Alcoholic Parents
It is generally accepted that alcoholism tends to run in families and that compared with children of non-alcoholics, children of alcoholic parents have approximately four time greater risk of becoming alcoholics themselves (Reich Pp). However, the causal factors that determine the development of alcohol abuse and dependence have not yet been conclusively determined (Reich Pp).
Studies from the 1950's and 1960's generally emphasized psychosocial explanation, such as "poor parenting, lack of good role models. And impoverished home life" (Reich Pp). Beginning in the 1970's, research has investigated heritable components in the familial transmission of alcoholism" (Reich Pp). Adoption studies analyses of half-siblings and studies comparing identical and fraternal twins have all provided evidence that genetic factors play a crucial role in the etiology of alcoholism (Reich Pp). Although there is strong evidence for a genetic contribution, few researchers would deny the influence of environmental factors in the development of alcoholism, such as maternal drinking during pregnancy, temperament and personality traits of the parents and children, "psychopathology in the parents and children. geographic location. family and community environment. religious involvement, academic failure, and association with deviant peers" (Reich Pp). And because some of these factors also have a genetic component, they may indirectly increase the genetic predisposition for alcoholism in some children of alcoholics (Reich Pp).
A1993 study revealed that children of alcoholic parents showed higher rates of oppositional and conduct disorders, but not attention deficit disorder (Shayka Pp). Moreover, children of alcoholic parents did not have significantly higher rates...
The children in this study also showed increased incidence of alcohol and other substance use but not abuse or dependence (Shayka Pp). The study revealed few differences with respect to self-esteem and achievement tests among the groups and "no differences in the rates of psychopathology between offspring of alcoholic vs. antisocial parents" (Shayka Pp). The study showed "that children of alcoholics exhibit high rates of psychopathology and may be at risk specifically for oppositional and conduct disorders but not for depression" (Shayka Pp). Furthermore, it is believed that "children of alcoholics are at risk not only for becoming alcoholic themselves but also for increased incidence of psychopathology during childhood and adolescence" (Shayka Pp).
Several studies have identified high levels of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and low educational goals as common personality characteristics of adolescent problem drinkers and these characteristics are in many aspects determined by the parental alcoholism and the effects of alcoholism on the family (Tomori Pp). "Unassertive parents are unable to enhance assertiveness in their children, nor can they promote their uneventful and trauma-free experiences separation process, one of the main axes of adolescent psychodynamics" (Tomori Pp). Children of alcoholics have feelings of rejection and constant fear of emotional loss throughout their childhood, culminating in adolescence when feelings become even more destructive and intensified by the adolescent's need for independence (Tomori Pp). Moreover, feelings of inferiority impede separation of children from alcoholic families, thus their loneliness provides an ideal breeding ground for the accumulating anxiety, self-rejection,…
