Alcoholic parentage, self-labeling, and endorsement of ACOA-codependent traits

Traits reputed to characterize adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) and cod ependent individuals were assessed among psychology undergraduates (n = 281 ). Students self-reporting alcoholic parentage were no different from contr ols on these traits or on self-reported drinking. Null effects are attribut ed to sample characteristics and to systematic inattention to discriminant validity concerns in the original trait formulations. Alcoholic parentage d id affect willingness to self-label as ACOA and codependent. Also, regardle ss of parentage, participants who self-labeled as codependent scored higher on the signature traits than participants who did not self-label as codepe ndent. This result is discussed with respect to recruitment pressures and s elf-fulfilling-prophecy effects engendered by the widespread dissemination of the ACOA. and codependency concepts.