Between 1991 and 1994 a sample of high- and low-functioning 10-18-year-old children of alcohol misusing and nonalcohol misusing parents were assessed on degree of problematic parental role functioning (parentification) and global self-concept. The high functioning children had been chosen by their teachers to receive training as peer counselors, whereas the low functioning children were in either psychiatric facilities or the custody of family and children services. The parentification scores of the latter significantly exceeded those of the former. Children of alcoholic parents also scored higher on the parentification measure than did those with nonalcoholic parents. Within the high functioning group hierarchical regression analysis revealed that while parental alcohol misuse status accounted for a small but significant amount of the variance in self-concept, the effect of this variable was substantially reduced after entering level of parentification into the equation. By contrast, within the low functioning group parental alcohol misuse status was not significantly related to self-concept whereas level of parentification was. The results are discussed within a family systems framework.

In a mailed survey, 125 persons with spinal cord injury responded to questions on the SCI Quality of Life Index (QOLI) , and the Reciprocal Social Support Scale. The results indicated that people with SCI who believe that they receive support from the community, compared to those who believed they received less support (1) perceived themselves to be better adjusted to their injury, and (2) had significantly fewer health problems (fewer spinal cysts, lower blood pres sure, shorter recovery time from decubitus ulcers, less pain below the level of injury, and fewer hospital admissions). The results also showed that people who believe that they contribute to the community in some way, compared to those who believed they contributed little or nothing (1) perceived themselves to be better adjusted to their injury, and (2) had significantly fewer health problems (fewer urinary tract infections, fewer decubitus ulcers, less severe decubiti, less pain above the level of injury, and fewer hospital admissions). A community support score, a summary score of support given and received, was also related to adjustment and health.

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