ADJUSTMENT ISSUES WITH ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS

The current study assessed locus of control, general level of life sat isfaction, and self-reported grade-point averages among adults who had experienced either alcoholism within the family of origin, traumatic life events other than alcoholism, or who indicated neither problem du ring their childhood. Results indicated that both the adult children o f alcoholics (ACOA) and traumatic experience (TE) groups had lower lif e satisfaction scores than the control group. Significantly lower leve ls of locus of control also were found for the ACOA group in compariso n to the control group. There were no significant differences among th e three groups based on self-reported GPAs. Results of the current stu dy support the concept that family dysfunction during childhood can in fluence negatively later life experiences and adjustment.