THE RELATIONSHIP OF SELF-PERCEPTION AND STRESS IN ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS AND THEIR PEERS

Woititz identified thirteen generalizations which she asserts characte rize adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) [1]. Her work, however, was based upon clinical populations and may not be generalizable to a non- clinical population. Using 442 undergraduate students, 2 x 3 multivari ate analysis of variance (parental alcoholism by level of childhood st ress) on students' perceptions of the applicability of Woititz's varia bles to them was conducted. No significant effects were found even tho ugh ACOAs experienced more childhood stress than their peers. Results do not support the generalization of Woititz's model to a non-clinical sample.