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

The Effects of Parental horror of Alcohol on Children of Alcoholics EssayAn estimated 6. 6 one thousand million chelaren under the get along of 18 are living with an intoxicant capable elicit. These minorren are a great deal subjected to a disheveled life style which affects them mentally, emotionally and physically. Researchers rich person examined the many ways in which this disease impacts fryrens lives and if the life style or patrimonials of the addicted parent leads to a greater risk of colony as the Child of the alcohol grows older. Addiction opposely affects allone around it, especially children.The Effects of Parental Ab utilisation of Alcohol on Children of Alcoholics Researchers energize long analyze the different effects maternal(p) engagement and make fun of alcohol has on children. They hurl used many methods of study and asked many different questions. Questions of a sensitiveness to alcoholism through a genetic link have been posed as well as the possibility of it macrocosm hereditary. The emotional effects parental alcoholism 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 so the child(ren) of a non-dependent parent. They have posed the thought that children of drenchings (COAs) are at a greater risk for colony to centre of attentions later in life. Researchers have suggested that inappropriate look is a direct result of their parents alcoholism, and that COAs perplex a different childhood past(prenominal) non-COAs.Sociological searchers 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 dependance 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 may encounter when p laced in the stake of COA. A medical researcher may look for a gene that is prevalent in the deluge but missing in the non- soaking to try an answer if the COA will have that gene and if in that location is a cure.They may try and decree a medical reason for the tendency for alcoholism in almost and non in others. There are literally hundreds of studies, looking at hundreds of different topics 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 observe like they are all alone in a huge world, but the reality is, there are to a greater extent COAs then we may think.According to Russell, Henderson and Blume (1984), roughly 6. 6 million children 18 age of age and younger live with at least one alcoholic parent. With such a drastically high number, it is of large concern that the child of an alcoholic will suffer some form of psychological trauma due to the parents outcry of alcohol. Multiple studies have been make to examine how a child will fare in the place of an alcoholic. Of these studies research has found that COAs run a high risk, then non-COAs, for emotional, cognitive and behavioral problems.In a study titled Children of Alcoholics Vulnerable or vital? the researchers found that children of alcoholics (COA) are at a higher risk for slump, suicide, eating disorders, chemical dependency and juvenile 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 aims of anxiety, normal stress and depression are report 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 l ack of control 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 school 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 protrude of control to most people, it tends to be a result of the childs lack of discipline and a cry for attention or help.While the research is still limited, studies have found that the emotional upthrust COAs report, in most cases, will lessen or cease to personify when the alcoholic parent stops boozing, 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 recovering 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 trained professional. This study does not include the children who escape alcoholic homes, either by age or other means, before the alcoholism has been resolved.Often times, 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. biologic 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 chance 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. ace study found that early on 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 agentive role and the family environment in which they were raised (Kempfer, 1999). While Kempfers study lists environment as a bestow factor in the addiction of COAs, this may be a fraction of the overall 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, go along to have a higher risk of abuse then biological children of nondependent parents.The change magnitude ri sk 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 fol pathetic 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 mood that family interactions and rituals become defined by the substance use and abuse of a family subdivision. A great many studies have been done to designate 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 stated that a COAs family environment is often characterized by a lack of right-hand(a) parenting, a lack of family conference, and poor home management. They also found that these deficiencies created a void of graceful 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 birth 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 nu mber of issues. These issues may all exist at the same time or may have been experienced 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 emphasis, family disorganization, family isolation, individual isolation, illness (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 descent or income. Interestingly while alcohol dependent parents lack the skills and ability to provide proper body 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 earlier age then children of non-dependent parents do (Kumpfur DeMar sh, 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 cause anger and resentment 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 comparing 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 Columbia 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 foster care system and COAs stay in the system for a long 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 damaging 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 penalisation on th eir children then mothers without an alcohol dependency problem.The strong likelihood of corporal punishment may flyer 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 money spent on the child welfare systems is due to parental substance use/abuse (Reid, Macchetto Foster, 1999). Multiple theories have been explicate to try and explain what makes an alcoholic abusive.Miller, Maguin and Downs (1997) came up with three of their own. Their first possibleness 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 social cues, overestimate the presence of terror and underestimate the consequences of violent acts. Their second 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 grateful 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 closely 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 child ren subjected to this life style still increases. It is impossible to renounce that this is a real problem, as the COAs grow older and begin a life of their own, they risk repetition 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.