PERSONAL AND FAMILIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RESILIENT SONS OF MALE ALCOHOLICS

This study compared sons of male alcoholics (SOMAs) who had no problem s with those who were abusing substances, those who had school problem s, those who were delinquent and those who were multiproblem. Correspo nding groups of non-SOMAs were also included. Groups were compared at ages 6, 10, 12 and 14 years on teacher- and peer-rated aggressiveness, hyperactivity, inattention, anxiety and prosociality; parent-rated te mperament; parents' disciplinary practices; school performance; family socio-economic status; self-reported substance (ab)use and delinquenc y; and school performance (from school records). Differences between S OMAs and non-SOMAs were small. According to teachers and peers, no pro blem SOMAs and non-SOMAs were less aggressive-oppositional, inattentiv e and hyperactive than problem SOMAs and non-SOMAs. These effects diff ered as a function of age, however Also, no problem SOMAs and non-SOMA s performed better in school than boys in the problem groups. We discu ss the relevance of these findings for identifying factors that render children resilient and for early screening to select truly at risk SO MAs for prevention programs.