Panther in the Basement

Alcoholism is a major contributor to dysfunction in families today. Research has shown that children who are born to an alcoholic family are adversely affected by alcoholism in their development (Baker and Stephenson, 1995). Children of alcoholics possess a greater risk of acquiring alcoholism as a result of their parentÐŽ¦s alcoholism (Reich, 1997). Within the body of this paper, this thesis will be supported. The text of this paper will list and describe risk factors in the transmission of alcoholism from parent to child, both specifically related to alcohol use and influences of a psychosocial nature.

It has been speculated for some time that alcoholism has biological roots, being passed down to children from generation to generation. Whether the influence is hereditary, environmental, or a combination of both factors has not yet been definitively proven. Studies conducted in the 1950's and 1960's on the continuance of alcoholism in families pointed to environmental causes, such as deficient parenting, lack of positive role models, and poor home lives. Since the 1970ÐŽ¦s however, researchers studied the possible genetic components of inheriting alcoholism. Studies were conducted using identical and fraternal twins, half-siblings, and children of adoption and focused on the development of alcoholism in these children. Reich states that these studies have provided proof that genetic factors do play an important part in the acquisition of alcoholism and that alcoholism can be transmitted familially (Reich, 1997).

More research has been conducted that clearly shows the vulnerability of children born into alcoholic families in becoming alcoholic. According to Reich, when comparing children from alcoholic families to children from nonalcoholic families, children of alcoholics have four times the risk of becoming alcoholic themselves (Reich, 1997).

Ellis and Zucker believe genetic risk factors play a role in the acquisition of alcoholism, such as physiological responses to alcohol, and the process of metabolization. They feel inherited biology is a significant area where familial influence can influence a child in developing alcoholism. However, Ellis and Zucker go on to say that the childÐŽ¦s psychosocial environment cannot be ignored, since there is much familial influence in this realm as well (Ellis & Zucker, 1997).

Family has a vital role in molding a childÐŽ¦s future drinking behavior through the parentsÐŽ¦ behavioral example in using alcohol. Ellis and Zuckerman also cite the importance of the ways in which the parents sort out, understand, and teach their children the norms and standards of the general public in regards to alcohol. Ellis and Zuckerman wrote, ÐŽ§Accordingly, the modeling of parental drinking behavior, the development of alcohol expectancies, and ethnic differences in drinking practices all make up the environmental family influence that are related to children of alcoholics alcohol useЎЁ [electronic version].

Jacob and Johnson similarly point to recent studies that suggest that a person's ideas regarding the effects of alcohol can be significant markers of alcohol use and abuse. Additionally, studies evaluating the impact of parental drinking on the development of children's alcohol expectancies have revealed three key issues (Jacob & Johnson, 1997).

The first issue brought to light by recent research is that a child's observations of the amount of alcohol that parents consume and the situation in which they drink appear to affect their own drinking frequency. Secondly, children's expectations regarding alcohol signal acknowledgement of norms regarding alcohol use and an understanding of parental drinking practices very early in a childÐŽ¦s life. Lastly, alcohol expectancies seem to be one of the ways of accounting for the relationship between paternal alcoholism and heavy drinking among offspring during college (Jacob & Johnson, 1997).

Fisher and Kittleson studied stress levels of collegiate adult children of alcoholics versus stress levels of collegiate adult children from nonalcoholic, dysfunctional families. This studyÐŽ¦s results found that adult children of alcoholics were more stressed by way of their familiesÐŽ¦ alcoholism, but more specifically, the individuals who had the most stress were the ones that endured negative family dynamics, events, situations, and interactions. Alcoholism is able to introduce such negativity into family life, thus raising the likelihood of stress and dysfunction (Fisher and Kittleson, 2000).

Baker and Stephenson also contend that families with an alcoholic parent show increased levels of stress and less support to its members than control families. Adult children of alcoholics reported in one study that they viewed their home lives as more emotionally abusive than control families studied (Baker & Stephenson, 1995).

It is common for many children of alcoholics to be exposed to alcohol use in an alcoholic family. Ellis and Zucker (1997) asserted, ÐŽ§Studies have shown that children and parents tend to show similar drinking practices, indicating that observational learning plays some part in later alcohol useЎЁ [electronic version].

Jacob and Johnson concur with Ellis & Zucker, reporting their findings in regards to the connection in drinking patterns from parent to child:

Numerous studies have demonstrated that the drinking patterns of parents and their adolescent and adult children are highly correlated. For example, one study found that adolescent children of alcoholics are 5.1 times more likely than children from non-alcoholic families to report a social consequence or dependence symptom related to alcohol and other drug use [electronic version].

With the mounting empirical research present, it becomes clear that psychosocial, familial behavior has a great impact on children of alcoholics, as well as genetic influences in the transmission of alcoholism in families.

Ethnic drinking practices also play a role in the future drinking behavior of a child in an alcoholic family. Ellis and Zucker recognize that all families are grounded in a ÐŽ§cultural frameworkЎЁ and assert that numerous studies have shown that personal beliefs on the effects of alcohol vary by ethnicity of the individual studied (Ellis & Zucker, 1997).

Other family influences that affect children of alcoholics that do not directly involve alcohol are parental psychopathy, the familyÐŽ¦s socioeconomic status, general family psychopathy, family aggression and violence, and parental cognitive impairment (Ellis & Zucker, 1997).

A high number of children of alcoholics are raised in