ATTACHMENT AMONG ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS

Disturbed or impoverished relationships have been identified as a pred ominant feature of adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs). Recently, the concept of co-dependency has been advanced to depict the interpersona l difficulties of these individuals, but lacks definitional rigor. The notion that childhood experiences with parents are 'carried forward' to affect attitudes and behaviors relevant to later intimate relations hips is also consistent with attachment theory. This study examined th e patterns of attachment of ACOAs as compared to adult children of non alcoholics (ACONAs). A cross-sectional sample of 203 individuals atte nding either a short term hospital based outpatient psychiatric progra m or a community based alcoholism treatment program was included in th is study. Results supported the hypothesis that female ACOAs had a dis tinctive dysfunctional attachment profile. There were no significant d ifferences in the attachment styles of male ACOAs as compared to ACONA s, or male substance abusers as compared to non-abusers.