The purpose of this study was to examine the interrelationships among parental attachment in childhood, social support in adulthood, and psychological adjustment of resilient adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs). A structural model depicting the relationships among parent care, parent control, perceived availability of social support, appraisal of social support, orientation to use of social support, and psychological adjustment was constructed from empirical data by using linear structural modeling (LISREL). / A significant number of the subjects indicated the presence of an emotionally supportive parental attachment in childhood which provided a strong emotional foundation. This was evidenced by their positive psychological adjustment, positive perceptions of the availability of supportive friends, and positive inclination to use them as support systems. / The primary parental relationship had two components: care and control. The care component, when sufficiently present in the parent-child relationship, had a direct positive effect on psychological adjustment. Furthermore, it had a significant positive impact on perception of social support from friends and on orientation to the use of social support. Parental care in childhood appears to serve as a protective factor, insulating some children from the negative effects of parental alcoholism and providing a foundation that is subsequently utilized in socially supportive relationships in adulthood. On the other hand, the control component had a significant effect only on perception but not on utilization or appraisal of social support later in life. Further, it had no significant direct effect on psychological adjustment. / The present study provides preliminary empirical validation of a health promotion life span model emphasizing the critical role of emotional support in the parent-child attachment. The emotionally supportive parental relationship sets up a direct path to psychological well being as well as an indirect path through the development and use of another protective factor, social support relationships. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-01, Section: B, page: 0547. / Major Professor: Thomas A. Cornille. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1994.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_77345 |
| Contributors | Taylor, Candice L., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 232 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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