The aim of this study was to assess identity, social intimacy, and coping mechanisms in non-clinical college youth raised in alcoholic homes in comparison to those non-clinical college youth raised in non-alcoholic homes while controlling for family environment. In order to control for family environment, four possible family types were devised to allow for comparison. These four types include a "functioning" alcoholic family, a "functioning" non-alcoholic family, a "non-functioning" alcoholic family, and a "non-functioning" non-alcoholic family. / The original sample consisted of 498 subjects who were administered a questionnaire consisting of six instruments, and a demographic section. The six instruments included the Brief Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test, the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test, the Ego Identity Scale, the Social Intimacy Scale, the Young Adult-Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences, and the Family of Origin Scale. The delimiting factors of the study reduced the final sample to 285 individuals of which 48 were adult children of alcoholics, and 237 were adult children of non-alcoholics. Only those individuals who had not experienced therapy were included in the sample, thus focusing on a non-clinical sample. / It was determined that significant differences did exist among all four family types for each variable (identity, social intimacy, and coping mechanisms). It appears that the family's ability to function is the primary factor regarding identity and coping mechanisms, with individuals from higher functioning families scoring more favorably. However, regarding social intimacy, it appears that the presence or absence of alcohol is the primary factor in that individuals from alcoholic families scored higher in social intimacy. Furthermore, identity, social intimacy, and coping mechanisms were found to have a positive relationship that was significant. In addition, identity and social intimacy were found to significantly predict family type. / This non-clinical sample of adult children of alcoholics does not appear to confront the issues that have been generated in the literature. Indeed, adult children of alcoholics are not a homogeneous group. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-10, Section: A, page: 3170. / Major Professor: Carol A. Darling. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1988.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_77859 |
| Contributors | Passarello, Lauren Christine., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 178 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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