Children of alcoholics: A study of prevalence and an investigation of coping resources.

Although equal proportions of males and females appeared in the children of alcoholics (COA) group, t-test analysis provided significant evidence that females were more expressive in regard to experiences with parental alcoholism. The Coping Resources Inventory (Hammer and Marting, 1988) measures coping resources in five domains: cognitive, social, emotional, spiritual/philosophical), and physical. Chi-square analysis revealed significant differences between COAs and non-COAs in each coping domain. Mean scores were similar, but COAs exhibited disproportionately higher and lower levels of resources, which added support to theories of resilience and vulnerability among COAs. Although inconclusive, children of alcoholic mothers appeared as most ill-affected and daughters of alcoholics revealed very high social and emotional resources. COAs who answered yes to three family conflict CAST items (n = 8) were compared to remaining COAs. On the basis of means, COAs exposed to conflict scored higher in each domain, with substantial differences in the emotional and social domains. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1992 .M347. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 31-04, page: 1591. Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1992