FAMILY CLIMATE AND PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS - RECOLLECTIONS FROM A NONCLINICAL SAMPLE OF ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLIC FATHERS

Past family climate and past parent-child relationships of a nonclinic al sample of young adult children of alcoholic fathers (n = 87) were c ompared to a sociodemographically similar sample of young adults with nonalcoholic parents (n = 106). Self-reports indicated that, compared to respondents from nonalcoholic families,respondents with alcoholic f athers described a more negative family climate with higher levels of conflict and lower levels of cohesion and expressiveness. Adult childr en of alcoholics described more negative relationships with their alco holic fathers. However, contrary to clinical literature, adult childre n of alcoholics' descriptions of their relationships with their nonalc oholic mothers did not differ from the descriptions provided by young adults with nonalcoholic parents. Daughters of alcoholic fathers repor ted more negative relationships with their fathers in the areas of rol e performance, affective expression, and control than did sons. Implic ations for practice include reinforcing the nurturing relationship bet ween nonalcoholic mothers and their children in families with alcoholi c fathers. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.