Personality characteristics of adult children of alcoholics : an empirical investigation

There has been increasing attention directed towards the effects of being raised in a home where parental alcoholism is present. This study attempted to empirically validate some of the personality characteristics of adult children of alcoholics. Two groups of 30 subjects were administered the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test, the MMPI, the Interpersonal Checklist and a personal data sheet. Subjects in the experimental group were women whose fathers were alcoholic; control group subjects had neither parent alcoholic. Tests were scored according to the Leary Interpersonal System.

Results indicated that adult children of alcoholics scored on Leary Octants that depict them as bitter, cynical and distrustful of others on a public level. The underlying character structure is one that eschews responsibility to and for others, and is uncomfortable in leadership roles. Adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) had less maternal identification than control subjects. In addition, results of the MMPI indicate that ACOAs have significantly more psychological symptoms than control subjects. They showed more depression, low self-esteem and a great deal of underlying anger towards authority. The mediating factors had little impact on the psychological adjustment indicated on the Leary and the MMPI results.

The results of the study call into question the validity of the description given by clinicians of adult children of alcoholics and suggest the need for future research to clarify both the personality characteristics described and the assumed homogeneity of this group.