The Effects of Parental Abuse of Alcohol on Children of Alcoholics Essay Example for Free

The Effects of P arntal Ab manipulation of Alcohol on Children of Alcoholics fillAn estimated 6. 6 million infantren under the age of 18 ar living with an alcohol dependent invoke. These shaverren are often subjected to a disheveled living modality which affects them mentally, stimulatedly and physically. Researchers perk up examined the many ways in which this disease impacts squirtrens lives and if the life style or genetics of the addicted resurrect leads to a greater risk of dependency as the Child of the alcohol grows older. Addiction negatively affects everyone around it, especially children.The Effects of Parental Abuse of Alcohol on Children of Alcoholics Researchers reflection at long studied the diametric effects parental use and shame of alcohol has on children. They have used many methods of instruct and asked many different questions. Questions of a predisposition to d containkenness through a genetic link have been posed as well as the possibility of it being hereditary. The emotional effects parental potomania has on a child have been examined, reexamined and examined again.Researchers have wondered if the child(ren) of an alcohol dependent parent is in any way physically different accordingly the child(ren) of a non-dependent parent. They have posed the thought that children of cloudbursts (COAs) are at a greater risk for dependency to significances later in life. Researchers have suggested that inappropriate behavior is a direct result of their parents alcoholism, and that COAs experience a different childhood then non-COAs.Sociological researchers have asked if the child loses its identity as the child and takes on a different role in the family, or if the adjustments made by the family to this addiction hinder the growth of the child as a social being. Psychological researchers have examined the possible stunts in the psychological and developmental growth that a child whitethorn encounter when primed(p) in the pos ition of COA. A medical researcher may look for a gene that is prevalent in the wet but missing in the non-alcoholic to try an answer if the COA allow for have that gene and if there is a cure.They may try and find a medical reason for the tendency for alcoholism in some and non in others. There are literally hundreds of studies, looking at at hundreds of different things associated with alcoholism. Though researchers may not all look at the same question, they all want to know the same thing Does parental alcoholism effect the child, and if so, how? Psychological Effects on the Child A COA can feel like they are all alone in a huge world, but the reality is, there are more COAs then we may think.According to Russell, Henderson and Blume (1984), roughly 6. 6 million children 18 years of age and younger live with at least one alcoholic parent. With such(prenominal) a drastically high number, it is of large concern that the child of an alcoholic will suffer some form of psychologi cal trauma due to the parents aversion of alcohol. Multiple studies have been done to examine how a child will fare in the home of an alcoholic. Of these studies research has free-base that COAs run a high risk, then non-COAs, for emotional, cognitive and behavioral enigmas.In a study titled Children of Alcoholics Vulnerable or Resilient? the researchers found that children of alcoholics (COA) are at a higher risk for natural depression, suicide, eating disorders, chemical dependency and teen pregnancy then non-COAs (Mylant, Ide, Cuevas, Meehan, 2002). Further studies that have been done that compared non-COAs with COAs and found that higher levels of anxiety, habitual stress and depression are reported among the COAs then the non-COAs (Schuckit Chiles,1978 Moos Billings, 1982 Anderson Quast, 1983 Preweet, Spence Chakins, 1981).A similar study was also done by Rolf, Johnson, Israel, Baldwin and Chandra (1988) they found that COAs conveyed feelings of loss or lack of cont rol over their environment. Their study showed that COAs, when compared to non-COAs, gave more extreme self-reports of depression. It is not uncommon to find that COAs feel guilt, anger, hatred, fear, embarrassment and loss of control due to their parents alcohol abuse. Along with the emotional problems COAs exhibit, they are often involved in behavioral problems including, but not limited to, lying, stealing, fighting, and misbehavior at chool (West Prinz,1987).The naturalize misbehavior can be so severe that COAs are often reported by their teachers as having conduct disorders, being overactive and impulsive (Knoop, Teasdale, Schulsinger, Goodwin, 1985 Schuckit Chiles, 1978 bell Cohen 1981, Fine, Yudin, Holmes, Heinemann, 1976 River, 1982 Steinhausen, Gobel Nestler, 1984 Merikangas, Weissman, Prusoff, Pauls, Leckman, 1985 Stweard, DeBlois, Singer, 1979) While their behavior may seem out of control to well-nigh people, it tends to be a result of the childs lack of discip line and a cry for attention or help.While the research is still limited, studies have found that the emotional turmoil COAs report, in around cases, will lessen or cease to exist when the alcoholic parent stops drinking, however it will return if the pattern of alcohol abuse begins again. Moos and Billings (1982) studied the emotional problems of children in relapsed alcoholic families, children in families with a regain parent and children in families with no alcoholic parent. They found that the children in a relapse home reported higher levels of depression and anxiety then those in recovery homes and homes without an alcohol problem.However children of relapse alcoholics have an equal emotional function level as children of a recovering alcoholic and children with no alcoholic parent. While the study finds that the emotional turmoil will lesson or cease, it is true that a lot of work must be done by the whole family to repair the damage done by alcohol. This work may include the use of a family or individual accomplished professional. This study does not include the children who escape alcoholic homes, either by age or other means, forrader the alcoholism has been resolved.Often time, those who leave before a resolve has been met will need to seek the help of a professional to find an end to their emotional struggle. Biological and Genetic Factors It has been said often, and by many people, alcoholism runs in the family. This statement has been proven to be a true fact. Multiple studies have been done on this one topic, all finding evidence of a genetic vulnerability to alcoholism when alcoholism is prevalent in the family (Kaij, 1960 Cloninger, Bohman, Sigvardsson,1981 Schulsinger, Hermansen, Guze Winokur, 1973).In other words a COA has a higher hap of becoming an alcoholic then a non-COA due to a genetic weakness they contain. This genetic vulnerability has been shown to be particularly high males when compared to females. One study found that early onset of alcoholism was more prevalent in males of an alcoholic father (fourfold more) then males of a non alcoholic father (Goodwin, 1985). While most people believe that middle school and high school age children are generally the largest risk group when it comes to addiction, it is, in-fact, another group that has topped the charts.COAs are now being listed as the largest and highest group of children at risk for addiction to alcohol and/or drugs this is due to the genetic factor and the family environment in which they were embossed (Kempfer, 1999). While Kempfers study lists environment as a contributing factor in the addiction of COAs, this may be a fraction of the general reason. In a study done by Schuckit, Goodwin and Winokur (1972) the researchers found that COAs, even when separated from the depended parent and adopted by nondependent parents, poke outd to have a higher risk of abuse then biological children of nondependent parents.The increased risk is reported to be 2-9 fold greater than the average child of a nondependent parent. Nevertheless, environment cannot be ruled out entirely, two separate studies found that there was a strong connection between substance use/abuse by parents and substance use/abuse by their children. They both found that if a parent takes a substance it is almost inevitable that the child will eventually do the same. Some of the participants in the study reported that seeing their parents do the substance gave them the feeling that it was ok for them to also do the substance (Fawzy, Coombs, Gerber, 1983 Skiffington Brown 1981).Granted not all children follow this mold, but the studies found that as a general statement this will happen. Emotional effects on the child One of the most compiling reasons for research on this subject by a sociological researcher is the idea that family interactions and rituals become defined by the substance use and abuse of a family member. A great many studies have been done to de termine just how much the family adjusts and readjusts to the alcoholic member and how these adjustments affect each member of the family.Families who are affected by alcoholism report much higher levels of conflict, stress and isolation then families naffected by this disease. Moos and Billings (1982) found that drinking is the primary factor of family disruption. They declared that a COAs family environment is often characterized by a lack of proper parenting, a lack of family dialogue, and poor home management. They also found that these deficiencies created a profane of proper parental modeling on later needed parental skills. Moos and Billings study found that the void of a proper parental modeling will attribute to the COAs relationship problems later in life. They may encounter relationship troubles with their partners or their children.All families experience some problems however families affected by alcoholism tend to experience a greater number of issues. These issues m ay all exist at the same time or may have been experience at different times. The following is an example of some of the issues that may be experienced increased family conflict, decreased family cohesion(unity), emotional and/or physical violence, family disorganization, family isolation, individual isolation, ailment (mental and/or physical), and increased stress and work problems, financial issues and frequent family moves (Guebaly Offord, 1997).The moving of the family may be attributed to the stigma the alcoholic member has brought on the family through abuse or embarrassment or for financial reasons pertaining to loss of a job or income. Interestingly while alcohol dependent parents lack the skills and ability to deliver proper structure and discipline for their children, they tend to demand their children be competent in a vast variety of skills and tasks at a much introductory age then children of non-dependent parents do (Kumpfur DeMarsh, 1986).This added pressure and extreme expectations tends to led to low self-esteem in the COA when the tasks cannot be completed. It may also occasion anger and irritation towards the alcoholic parent. As the child grows older it becomes an area of great conflict between the COA and the addicted parent and could lead to the child leaving the home. One study found that 79% of child runaways and homeless adolescents report alcohol use in their childhood home, and 53% report a drinking problem in their childhood home (Booth, Zhang, 1996).Physical effects on the child Alcohol has been cited as an inciter to increased chances of child abuse. One study found that, when study parents with a history of alcohol abuse and parents without a history of alcohol abuse, the parents with a history of alcohol abuse had a higher potential for child abuse then the parents without an alcohol abuse problem. (Ammerman, Kolko, Kirisci, Blackson, Dawes,1999) The results of this study are backed by a separate study done at Columbi a University.Researchers found that, as reported by child welfare professionals, three of every four child welfare professionals finds substance abuse to be the leading cause in child abuse since 1986. About 75. 7% of those same child welfare professionals finds that children of substance dependent parents are more likely to enter the cling to care system and COAs stay in the system for a longer period of time then the other children do (Reid, Macchetto Foster 1999).Often times it seems that one child will bear the brunt of the abuse more than his or her siblings. According to Tarter, Blackson, Martin, Loeber and Moss (1993) their study found that sons of alcohol dependent fathers received more disconfirming discipline from their parents then daughters of alcohol dependent fathers or sons and daughters of non-dependent fathers. In a similar study, it was found that mothers with an alcohol dependency problem were more likely to use corporal punishment on their children then mother s without an alcohol dependency problem.The strong likelihood of corporal punishment may account for the length variance of 24-29% (greater for COAs) when looking at inpatient admissions of COAs verse non-COAs. Of the reasons for admissions, the most prominent were substance abuse and mental disorders. In the same study, the researchers estimated that between 70% and 90% of all notes spent on the child welfare systems is due to parental substance use/abuse (Reid, Macchetto Foster, 1999). Multiple theories have been formulated to try and explain what makes an alcoholic abusive.Miller, Maguin and Downs (1997) came up with three of their own. Their first theory is the Cognitive Disorganization hypothesis. This idea offers the explanation that the likelihood of violence increases due to the lack of communication among the family. The faltering communication is associated with the consumption of alcohol. When communication fails the alcohol dependent person may misinterpret general soc ial cues, overestimate the presence of threat and underestimate the consequences of violent acts. Their blink of an eye theory is the Deviance Disavowal hypothesis.This idea finds that the abuser removes the blame of the violence from him/herself and places it onto the alcohol. This action effectively minimizes their personal responsibility for their violent actions and removes all guilt they may feel. Their final theory is the Disinhibition hypothesis, this idea offers the explanation that alcohol has a pharmacological interference with the centers of the brain that inhibit socially acceptable and unacceptable behaviors. These theories are not a definitive answer, but they give some idea into what may be the reason for alcoholism and child abuse being so nigh linked.Conclusion The studies have shown that a parents use and abuse of alcohol will affect their child in a negative way. While these studies still continue to be done, it seems that the number of children subjected to thi s life style still increases. It is impossible to deny that this is a real problem, as the COAs grow older and begin a life of their own, they risk repeating the cycle and subjecting more children to the same situation, or worse, then the one they were in. The studies have been done, now we need to find away to fix the problem before it gets any worse.