Parental alcoholism and childhood psychopathology
- Författare
- West, MO., & Prinz, RJ.
- Titel
- Parental alcoholism and childhood psychopathology
- Utgivningsår
- 1987
- Tidskrift
- Psychological Bullentin
- Volym
- 102
- Häfte
- 2
- Sidor
- 204-218
- Sammanfattning
We reviewed studies about children of alcoholic parents published between 1975 and 1985 to clarify the relation between parental alcoholism and child psychopathology. We identified methodological problems in this body of literature and organized substantive findings around eight areas of outcome: (a) hyperactivity and conduct disorder; (b) substance abuse, delinquency, and truancy; (c) cognitive functioning; (d) social inadequacy; (e) somatic problems; (f) anxiety and depressive symptoms; (g) physical abuse; and (h) dysfunctional family interactions. The literature as a whole supported the contention that parental alcoholism is associated with a heightened incidence of child symptoms of psychopathology, in comparison with no increased incidence in offspring of nondisturbed parents. However, neither all nor a major portion of the population of children from alcoholic homes are inevitably doomed to childhood psychological disorder. Findings are discussed in terms of causality, child resiliency, and potential qualifying factors, such as variations in family disruption. Recommendations are presented regarding methodological improvements, possible mediating variables, and a multiple-risk conceptualization.