COMMON ASPECTS OF OBJECT RELATIONS AND SELF-REPRESENTATIONS IN OFFSPRING FROM DISPARATE DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES

Survey data were collected from 97 adults, drawn from clinical and com munity settings, who identified themselves as growing up in dysfunctio nal families. Constructs from object relations, self psychology, and a ttachment theory were used to select criterion measures. Although the level of family dysfunction was generally high, no significant differe nces were observed between adult children of alcoholics and adults fro m families whose dysfunction was not due to substance abuse. Degree of family dysfunction was significantly associated with internalized sha me, object relations deficits, and presence of addictions and emotiona l problems. Contrary to expectation, family dysfunction was negatively correlated with 2 self psychology constructs: goal instability and su periority. The study suggests that clinical interventions based on obj ect relations and attachment theories may be particularly useful with adult children from dysfunction families.