Adult children of alcoholics: Drinking, psychiatric, and psychosocial status

Although family history of alcoholism represents a major risk factor in the development of drinking problems, the available empirical literature on this topic has raised significant questions regarding the strength and breadth of this relationship. In addition, few studies have evaluated factors that can ameliorate or exacerbate risk for adverse outcomes among children of alcoholics (COAs). The current study compared the drinking, psychiatric, and psychosocial status of 84 adult COAs with those of 111 offspring of normal controls and 102 offspring of psychiatric controls. Adult COAs were differentiated from control groups regarding alcohol and drug abuse and personality characteristics associated with behavioral undercontrol. Furthermore, the drinking outcomes of female versus male offspring were most clearly differentiated across groups. Future research directions are discussed.