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

Abstract

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. Four-hundred-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.