Dependency and Dependency Conflict in Offspring of Problem Drinking Parents.

This study examined the relationship between parent problem drinking and offspring dependency conflict in a normal, college population. Literatures on dependency, psychological etiology of alcoholism and children of alcoholic parents suggest that offspring of alcoholic parents will experience inhibited or exaggerated dependency or dependency conflict more than non-alcoholics' offspring. Conflict results from disruptions of stable family life and unreliable and /or inconsistent behavior of parents often associated with the alcoholic family. Of 193 female and 147 male undergraduate subjects, 47 females and 37 males reported parent problem drinking via a third-person form of the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test. Results supported the proposed relationship between indices of parent-familial disruption and indices of offspring dependency and dependency conflict (scores on a dependency scale, self-disclosure scores, self-reports of dependency related behaviors). As predicted, offspring of problem drinking parents also reported significantly more familial disruption and parental inconsistency than controls. The relationship of parent problem drinking to offspring dependency was more complex than predicted. Both sexes showed increased vulnerability to dependency conflict when mother problem drank. The impact of fathers' drinking was less than that of mothers. For both sexes, self-disclosure to father was decreased by either parent's problem drinking. It was lowest when father's drinking problem was more severe or of earlier onset. There were sex differences among offspring of problem drinkers. Sons evidenced more vulnerability to psychological problems, extremes in expressed need for attachment and a decrease in behavior which fosters close relationship (self-disclosure to peers). Sons of problem drinking fathers drank more heavily than peers but did not report significantly more drinking problems. Daughters of problem drinkers emerged as more extraverted, denying of needs for others but more self-revealing to peers. Daughters were also heavier but not significantly more problem drinkers. The study offers evidence of conflict about dependent relationships in offspring of problem drinkers, a carrying on of family patterns other than problem drinking. Implications for future study are discussed, particularly the importance of sex differences and interaction of sex role and personality in producing a problem outcome.PhDClinical psychologyUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/159516/1/8324149.pd