Citation

Roosa MW, Sandler IN, Beals J, Short JL. Am. J. Community Psychol. 1988; 16(2): 225-239.

Affiliation

Program for Prevention Research, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287-2502.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

3407633

Abstract

These studies assessed the risk status of children of untreated alcoholics. In Study 1, a cross-sectional survey of 208 high school students identified 18% as having serious concern about their parents' drinking. In Study 2, 32 children of problem-drinking parents and 39 others who participated in self-help groups were surveyed. Children of problem-drinking parents were more at risk of depression, low self-esteem, and heavy drinking than their peers in the general high school population. Within self-help groups, however, children's symptomatology was not related to their parents' drinking status. The results support the need for preventive intervention for children of problem-drinking parents and for developing strategies for improving the participation rate of such children in the intervention programs that are available.

Language: en