COA's Proximal Environment

Though the developmental deficiencies of children of alcoholics (COAs) are well defined there have yet to emerge any clear markers to indicate the root of their dysfunction. This paper investigates the family environment of problem drinkers, in order to determine the possible variables that may mediate the relationship between parental drinking and COA dysfunction. Specifically, this study examines familial stress levels in order to determine whether stress is related to parental drinking and if so, whether it acts as a mediator. Analyses are based on a sub-sample of families selected for maternal drinking problems, as measured by the CAGE questionnaire, from a larger sample of 177 families which contained an at-risk adolescent. Results indicate that maternal drinking is related to teen internalizing symptoms and that this relationship may be mediated by the adolescents ' perceived stress and peer alienation. However, teens who report that their relationship with their problem drinking mothers is characterized by more trust and better communication seem to be protected from the possible negative effects of maternal drinking and subsequently exhibit fewer internalizing symptoms. These findings are consistent with the general environmental mechanism hypothesis which states that the genesis of, or the protection from, deficits in COAs are a product of family dysfunction and are not a direct effect of parental drinking