Work

Characterizing the life stressors of children of alcoholic parents.

Year: 2008

Type: article

Abstract: The current study examined differences between children of alcoholic (COAs) and nonalcoholic parents in their experience of negative life events across 3 longitudinal studies together spanning the first 3 decades of life. The authors posited that COAs would differ from their peers in the life domains in which they are vulnerable to stressors, in the recurrence of stressors, and in the severity of stressors. Scale- and item-level analyses of adjusted odds ratios based on stressors across 7 life domains showed that COAs consistently reported greater risk for stressors in the family domain. COAs were also more likely to experience stressors repetitively and to rate their stressors as more severe (in adulthood). Implications for prevention and intervention programs targeting this risk group are discussed.

Source: Journal of Family Psychology

DOI: 10.1037/a0013704

Authors: Andrea M. Hussong, Daniel J. Bauer, Wenjing Huang, Laurie Chassin, Kenneth J. Sher, Robert A. Zucker

Institutions: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Arizona State University, University of Missouri, University of Michigan

Language: English

Topic: Child Abuse and Trauma

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute on Drug Abuse