Children of Alcoholics
Conclusion
In short, dysfunctional alcoholic families have the potential to vividly restrict the individuation process. Extant research underscores the importance for children from alcoholic dysfunctional families to learn strategies for enhancing separateness from parental influences. In other words, children need to be encouraged to accept their parents' illness and to understand that they are not responsible either for the illness or for helping the parents to resolve their personal problems. Only in this way will children be able to constructively individuate from the family, explore their own identity options, and maintain constructive relationships with the parents at the same time.
See also: ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT; CHILD ABUSE: PHYSICAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT; CODEPENDENCY; CONDUCT DISORDER; DEPRESSION: ADULTS; DEPRESSION: CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: DEVELOPMENT: COGNITIVE; DEVELOPMENT: EMOTIONAL; DEVELOPMENT: SELF; DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOPATHOLOGY; FAMILY DIAGNOSIS/DSM-IV; HEALTH AND FAMILIES; JUVENILE DELINQUENCY; RUNAWAY YOUTHS; SEPARATION-INDIVIDUATION; SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Bibliography
Black, C. (1981). It Will Never Happen to Me. New York: Ballantine Books.
Chassin, L.; Rogosch, F.; and Barrera, M. (1991). "Substance Use and Symptomatology Among Adolescent Children of Alcoholics." Journal of Abnormal Psychology 100:449–463.
Christensen, H. B., and Bilenberg, N. (2000). "Behavioral and Emotional Problems in Children of Alcoholic Mothers and Fathers." European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 9:219–226.
Coles, C. D., and Platzman, K. A. (1993). "Behavioral Development in Children Prenatally Exposed to Drugs and Alcohol." International Journal of Addictions 28:1393–1433.
Crespi, T. D. (1990). Becoming an Adult Child of an Alcoholic. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
Crespi, T. D. (1995). "Adult Children of Alcoholics: The Family Praxis." Family Therapy 22:81–95.
Domenico, D., and Windle, M. (1993). "Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Functioning Among Middle-Aged Female Adult Children of Alcoholics." Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 61:659–666.
Drake, R. E., and Vaillant, G. E. (1988). "Predicting Alcoholism and Personality Disorder in a 33-Year Longitudinal Study of Children of Alcoholics." British Journal of Addition 83:799–807.
Harter, S. L. (2000). "Psychosocial Adjustment of Adult Children of Alcoholics: A Review of the Recent Empirical Literature." Clinical Psychology Review 20:311–337.
Jacob, T.; Krahn, G.; and Leonard, K. (1991). "Parent-Child Interactions in Families with Alcoholic Fathers." Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 59:176–181.
Jacob, T., and Windle, M. (2000). "Young Adult Children of Alcoholic, Depressed and Nondistressed Parents." Journal of Studies on Alcohol 61:836–844.
Jacob, T.; Windle, M.; Seilhamer, R. A.; and Bost, J. (1999). "Adult Children of Alcoholics: Drinking, Psychiatric, and Psychosocial Status." Psychology of Addictive Behaviors 13:3–21.
McGrath, C. E.; Watson, A. L.; and Chassin, L. (1999). "Academic Achievement in Adolescent Children of Alcoholics." Journal of Studies on Alcohol 60:18–26.
Puttler, L. I.; Zucker, R. A.; Fitzgerald, H. E.; and Bingham, C. R. (1998). "Behavioral Outcomes Among Children of Alcoholics during the Early and Middle Childhood Years: Familial Subtype Variations." Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 22:1962–1972.
Rosellini, G., and Worden, M. (1985). Of Course You're Angry. San Francisco: Harper and Row.
Scott, E. M. (1970). Struggles in an Alcoholic Family. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
Seixas, J. S., and Youcha, G. (1985). Children of Alcoholics: A Survivor's Manual. New York: Crown Publishers.
Sher, K. J.; Walitzer, K. S.; Wood, P. K.; and Brent, E. E. (1991). "Characteristics of Children of Alcoholics: Putative Risk Factors, Substance Use and Abuse, and Psychopathogy." Journal of Abnormal Psychology 100:427–448.
Steinglass, P. (1987). The Alcoholic Family. New York: Basic Books.
Wegscheider-Cruse, S. (1989). Another Chance: Hope and Health for the Alcoholic Family. Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavior Books.
West, M., and Prinz, R. (1987). "Parental Alcoholism and Childhood Psychopathology." Psychological Bulletin 102:204–218.
Whipple, E.; Fitzgerald, H.; and Zucker, R. (1995). "Parent-Child Interactions in Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Families." American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 65:153–159.
Wilson, C., and Orford, J. (1978). "Children of Alcoholics: Report of a Preliminary Study and Comments on the Literature." Journal of Studies on Alcohol 39:121–142.
Woititz, J. G. (1983). Adult Children of Alcoholics. Pompano Beach, FL: Health Communications.
Woititz, J. G. (1985). Struggle for Intimacy. Pompano Beach, FL: Health Communications.
Ziegler-Driscoll, G. (1979). "The Similarities in Families of Drug Dependents and Alcoholics." In Family Therapy of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, ed. E. Kaufman and P. N. Kaufmann. New York: Gardner Press.
TONY D. CRESPI
Additional topics
Marriage and Family EncyclopediaPregnancy & ParenthoodChildren of Alcoholics - Family Dynamics And Developmental Influences, Conclusion