Examines the uniformity myth surrounding adult children of alcoholics by exploring differences among nonclinical college females with alcoholic fathers, alcoholic mothers, and no alcoholic parents. Results indicate no group differences in eating-disorder symptomatology. Differences were found in terms of distress arising from interpersonal…

Psychosocial factors as possible predictive indicators for adjustment of four-year-old children whose mothers had used amphetamine during pregnancy were studied. Length of maternal alcohol and drug abuse was correlated negatively with the child's adjustment as were numbers of paternal criminal convictions and number of maternal stress factors.…

This guide is a compilation of material critical to incarcerated women and to women in the community who have a history involving the criminal justice system. It provides them with a framework for analyzing problems, formulating strategies for change, and crafting solutions. Section 1 deals with negotiating the prison system. Six chapters address…

Alcoholism is a growing problem in America today. Children are becoming addicted to chemicals at a much younger age. Those children who have alcoholic parents and/or grandparents are more susceptible to addiction because of hereditary factors. Children of alcoholic parents live amidst conflict and confusion. Because of this conflict and confusion,…

Noting that children growing up with an alcoholic parent often suffer from underdeveloped perceptual skills, unhealthy self-concepts, and low self-esteem, a study examined the impact of an alcoholic family environment on the ability of adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) to communicate interpersonally. The Communicator Style Measure (CSM) was…

To defend against the instability and dishonesty of his family life, the child of an alcoholic parent may adopt the role of the hero--a highly conforming, highly achieving "good child" who seeks to redeem his family and himself through his accomplishments. Children of alcoholics adhere to their childhood roles as adults and may even…

Several researchers have explored the role of alcohol in domestic violence and attributions of blame. To compare the amount of blame attributed to an incident of wife abuse, alcoholic (N=52) and nonalcoholic (N=159) subjects read an account of wife abuse and distributed a percentage of the blame to the man, the woman, and the situation.…

Focuses on alcoholism in the husband/father. Disturbed personality and decompensation hypotheses were not supported by the data. Suggests systems theory alone is inadequate to conceptualize the inconsistency of the alcoholic, and his impact on the family. Proposes a combination of systems theory and Hill's (1949) crisis theory. (Author)

Sponsored by the Advisory Council of the University of Minnesota, Duluth, the proceedings include the keynote address on the effects of day care on young children and associated guidelines for practice. Four sectional presentations provide discussions of discipline-based art education for early childhood, all-day programs for creative learning in…

This study assessed the effectiveness of a brief group treatment program aimed at ameliorating some of the psychological reactions commonly seen in wives of alcoholics. The goals of the 8 week treatment program were: (1) to help wives identify their counterproductive attempts to cope with the alcoholism; (2) to develop constructive coping…

Although clinicians have recently come to view children of alcoholics as primary patients who deserve treatment in their own right, such youngsters have little access to appropriate services. Experts estimate that less than five percent of children of alcoholic parents receive the help they need. Recent research indicates that the younger the…

Noting that little is known about how communication functions in alcoholic families, and about the effects of this alcoholic home environment on children of alcoholics, their communication patterns, and their relationships, this paper identifies strengths and weaknesses in existing literature on the alcoholic family and children of alcoholics. In…

Children of alcoholic parents often defend against family instability by adopting roles (hero, scapegoat, lost child, mascot) which bring a semblance of stability to the family. While one role may seem to dominate the character of an individual child, all four roles may be seen in the same child; at times conditions may cause an exchange of roles.…

Urges teachers to educate themselves and others about alcoholism and its effects on the family; create a safe non-threatening school environment in which children of alcoholics can begin to understand their lives; and initate a support group for children of alcoholics. (DMM)

Outlines a small group model that provides elementary school counselors with a creative way to help children of alcoholics build resiliency and develop protective strategies. Emphasizes the importance of the school counselor in taking a proactive approach and reaching out to help children develop the skills needed to survive an alcoholic home.…