Abstract

This thesis explores the latent effects of paraental alcoholism on adult children. While much literature has been reviewed examining the overall effects of parental alcoholism on adult children, this thesis focuses on a few important variables specifically self-esteem, achievement, gender, counseling and family dysfunctions. There are several theories that can help to explain why ACOAs may suffer from latent effects of parental alcoholism, one theory being symbolic interactionism. The theories are addressed in the thesis and examined specifically in relation to ACOAs. The testing procedure consisted of a short questionnaire that I distributed to about five-hundred College of Wooster students. The return rate was high enough to run significant computer tests on the outcomes of the surveys. My hypotheses were very specific in relation to the variables I found to be most important after studying the literature. Females will suffer from a lower self-esteem level and males will suffer from a lower achievement level. The intervening variables are counseling and other family dysfunctions which may affect the level of self-esteem and achievement problems the ACOAs suffer. My hypotheses were found to be true in relation to the ACOA and non-ACOA subjects that I studied on the college campus.

Advisor

Fitz Gibbon, Heather

Department

Sociology and Anthropology

Publication Date

1995

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 1995 Jennifer L. Pagano