Fetal Alcohol Syndrome can result when a mother drinks during pregnancy. This is a set of characteristics leading anywhere from neurological defects to behavior problems and learning disabilities later in life. It is an environmental factor that can affect the child. Again, out of the child’s control (NACA).
Adoption studies preformed in the 1970’s however, analyzed half siblings and compared identical twins showing evidence that genetic factors play a role in the etiology of alcoholism (Reich). Children that were born of non alcoholic parents and ones that were born of alcoholic parents were both placed in non alcoholic environments. Results revealed that the ones with the alcoholic family member in their biologic make up were three to four more likely to become dependent. Both adoption and twin studies have indicated that one or more of the approximately 50,000 to 100,000 genes comprising the human genetic material influence a person’s likelihood of developing alcoholism. However, progress in identifying these genes has been slow. Several genetic factors also apply. Genetic factors in women are much less important in the etiology of alcoholism (McGue).
Child abuse is another big issue when it comes to parental alcoholism. Substance abuse is the leading cause for child maltreatment in the United States with alcohol leading in physical abuse (NACA). Relating to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, children exposed prenatally are three or four times more likely to be abused. Higher levels of conflict occur in families where alcohol is a problem. The National Association for Children of Alcohols characterizes an environment of children of alcoholics as lacking parenting, poor home management, and lack of family communication skills. This thereby robs the children of alcoholic parents of modeling or training on parenting skills or family effectiveness. Sons of addicted fathers are recipients of more detrimental discipline practices from their parents. Many times, these innocent children lose their parents due to addiction related crime or maltreatment. They are removed from their homes and many times not even placed with relatives, they are put into children’s homes or foster homes.
Children of alcoholics share many common characteristics. Studies performed by Gabrielli and Mednick report findings that children from alcoholic families have a lower IQ, arithmetic, reading, and verbal scores than those from non-alcoholic families. The scores, however, were still within normal range. School aged children of alcoholic families often have troubles in school. Academic performance reflects their need to repeat grades, failing to graduate, and referrals to school psychologists. Also, motivational difficulties or the stresses of the home environment may contribute to the difficulties in school. Parental alcoholism is coupled to a number of psychological disorders in kids. Emotional functioning can be negatively changed when divorce, parental anxiety, or other undesirable changes in the family or in life situations occur. Children of alcoholic families report higher levels of depression and anxiety. They also exhibit more symptoms of low self esteem, expressing a feeling a lack of self control over their environment. Conversely, emotional stress will, in most cases, lessen when the parent stops drinking. Finally, study findings suggest that these children of alcoholics often demonstrate behavioral problems such as stealing, lying, fighting, truancy, and school behavior problems. They are reported to be more overactive and impulsive than children without alcoholic parents. Since it is the family environment that is causing these problems in children, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism explained some family conflict characteristics. There are lower levels of family cohesion, expressiveness, independence and intellectual orientation and higher levels of conflict. It is interesting though that the children are less likely to become alcoholics when their dependent parents follow through with holidays, rituals, and regular mealtimes (NIAAA).
Implications
Implications relating to children of alcoholics mainly deal with modifying risk factors. They focus on the child’s behavior related to their parent’s addiction. Through primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention models, interventions can be made. They involve screenings that reveal the need for coping, education, and alternate activities outside the home. It is also important to consider what is modifiable and non-modifiable when providing prevention, coping or teaching.
The prevention models aim to prevent or fix children who are, or who already have a potential for exhibiting characteristics of an alcoholic. A primary prevention model focuses on children who have not exhibited specific problems, but who might be at risk because of genetic and/or environmental factors. Its goals are to reduce stress, develop self-esteem, social competence, and a strong social support system. Secondary models of prevention are for children who already have behaviors alcoholism. Tertiary prevention helps children who are already involved with alcohol and prevent further deterioration of their behavior.
Psychologists or other implementers use screening techniques to determine what kind of implementation they require. One in particular determines the child’s concern regarding a parents drinking problem. The CAGE is intended to screen for family alcoholism, not diagnose. If there is a positive finding on the CAGE, the child should have a diagnostic assessment. Ann W. Price, M.A., and James E. Emshoff, Ph.D. described this screening test:
The family CAGE: An Alcoholism Screening Test
The CAGE is perhaps the most widely used screening test for alcoholism. This tool has been adapted to reflect concern for a parent’s drinking through the following four questions:
- Do you think your parent needs to CUT down on his/her drinking?
- Does your parent get ANNOYED at comments about his/her drinking?
- Does your parent ever feel GUILTY about his/her drinking?
- Does your parent ever take a drink early in the mornings as an EYE opener?
Another useful screening questionnaire is the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test, also known as CAST. It was designed to identify young and adult children of alcoholics. It contains 30 items that probe the respondent’s attitudes, feelings, perceptions, and experiences related to drinking behavior of the respondent’s parents.
A helpful method for children of alcoholics is prevention groups. They are in group settings because it reduces the children’s feelings of isolation, shame, and guilt which is what is happening at home. These types of programs capitalize on the importance of peer influences and moral support. The group sessions can be held in many ways. They can be closed-ended, with a specific beginning and ending point. Or, they can be open-ended, allowing the children to come and go as needed or preferred. The groups can be directed at any child, in any point in time. For example, they can be broad based in a large community setting or just targeted at a specific high risk group of children. Some high risk examples are abused, neglected, children with academic problems, or gang affiliations. These programs allow the participants to discuss similar situations to help them cope with their difficulties. School based programs are also used with children of alcoholics. They are very beneficial because teachers can recognize behavioral or academic problems just by being with them every day. Educating children of alcoholics about the risks is one of the most important events that occur in prevention programs. When the children first learn the negative consequences, they can relate them to their parents. This education is coupled with coping. Once the children are informed, they know they are not alone, and not at fault. Many children of alcoholics feel at fault for their parent’s addiction, which is a common trait of alcoholic families (Price).
Lastly, alternate activities should be provided for children of alcoholics. Instead of going home after school, getting them somewhere like a library to do homework, or a gym to play basketball are good ways to distract them from family life. It helps them to develop more peer relationships and gives them somewhere or someone to turn to.
Conclusion
Alcohol is indeed a huge problem in America especially in regard to children with alcoholic parents. The factors underlying the causes come down to biological predispositions or psychological and environmental factors. Biological predispositions prove to be a better indicator than environmental factors as shown in the twin and adoption studies. Researchers have used retrospective, cross-sectional, and prospective studies to look for these predispositions or to study the effects of alcoholism have on kin. Fetal alcohol syndrome, caused when a mother drinks during pregnancy, puts children at a higher risk of becoming dependent. All of these issues are out the child’s control, or non-modifiable. For example, they cannot help that they were born with having an alcoholic parent, that they were abused, or that they are now mentally retarded because their mother consumed alcohol while she was pregnant with them. Children of alcoholics have many negative characteristics such as depression, low self esteem, short tempers, and many other problems associated with school which can be looked at as modifiable. Prevention groups, programs, schools, and other activities outside the home can help to positively change these behaviors.
Works Cited
“Children of Addicted Parents: Important Facts.” National Association for Children of _ Alcoholics. 23 February 2004. < http://www.nacoa.net/pdfs/addicted.pdf>.
McGue, Matt. “A Behavioral-Genetic Perspective on Children of Alcoholics.” Alcohol Health _ and Research World 21 (1997): 210-217). National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and _ Alcoholism. 23 February 2004. <>.
Price, Ann, Emshoff, James. “From Breaking the Cycle of Addiction: Prevention and Intervention With Children of Alcoholics.” Alcohol Health and Research World 21 (1997): 241-243. National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. 23 February 2004. < >.
Reich, Wendy. “Prospective Studies of Children of Alcoholic Parents.” Alcohol Health and _ Research World 21 (1997): 255-257. National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and _ Alcoholism. 23 February 2004. < >.
