ADULTHOOD FUNCTIONING - THE JOINT EFFECTS OF PARENTAL ALCOHOLISM, GENDER AND CHILDHOOD SOCIOECONOMIC STRESS

The popular literature has publicized the adjustment difficulties of a dult children of an alcohol-dependent parent (ACOAs); however, empiric al studies do not provide consistent support. We examined the impact o f parental alcoholism degree of childhood socio-economic stress and ge nder on three broad categories of adulthood functioning (psychopatholo gy, socio-economic attainment and marital stability). These effects we re investigated with a heterogeneous sample of 400 men and 226 women p articipating in studies at the University of Michigan Alcohol Research Center. Parental alcoholism and childhood socio-economic stress exert ed significant independent effects on most adulthood functioning measu res. Men and women differed substantially only on socio-economic attai nment measures, and effects of parental alcoholism and childhood econo mic stress on men and women were generally similar. For marital stabil ity, parental alcoholism and childhood socio-economic stress interacte d. These results suggest that researchers who study the impact of fami ly history for alcoholism on psychological functioning should consider other aspects of the family of origin that promote wellbeing. In addi tion, results of this study point to the need for more research on gen der differences, protective factors that promote good adjustment and o utcome measures reflecting general life adaptation.