A COMPARISON OF FAMILY-OF-ORIGIN FACTORS BETWEEN CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS AND CHILDREN OF NON-ALCOHOLICS IN A LONGITUDINAL PANEL

Secondary analysis of longitudinal panel data reveals minimal differen ces in family of origin factors between children of alcoholics (COAs) and children of non-alcoholics (non-COAs). From 220 subjects, 37 paren ts were identified as alcoholic. The COA subjects' retrospective repor ts about family of origin factors were compared to those of non-COAs. Contrary to the assertions of the COA clinical literature, few differe nces were found between the two groups. However, these differences are congruent with the findings of other panel studies which have investi gated family of origin factors and adult outcome among COAs.