Family climate and parent-child relationships: Recollections from a nonclinical sample of adult children of alcoholic fathers

Abstract

Past family climate and past parent-child relationships of a nonclinical sample of young adult children of alcoholic fathers (n = 87) were compared to a sociodemographically similar sample of young adults with nonalcoholic parents (n = 106). Self-reports indicated that, compared to respondents from nonalcoholic families, respondents with alcoholic fathers described a more negative family climate with higher levels of conflict and lower levels of cohesion and expressiveness. Adult children of alcoholics described more negative relationships with their alcoholic fathers. However, contrary to clinical literature, adult children of alcoholics' descriptions of their relationships with their nonalcoholic mothers did not differ from the descriptions provided by young adults with nonalcoholic parents. Daughters of alcoholic fathers reported more negative relationships with their fathers in the areas of role performance, affective expression, and control than did sons. Implications for practice include reinforcing the nurturing relationship between nonalcoholic mothers and their children in families with alcoholic fathers.

Associations between Family Routines, Family Relationships, and Children’s Behavior

“…By contrast, conflict was positively associated with internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors but negatively associated with prosocial behavior. These results are consistent with those of previous studies that examined the impact of family routines on children's behavior (DeCaro & Worthman, 2008;Fiese et al, 1993;Romano et al, 2022) and the impact of family relationships on children's behavior (Hirsch et al, 1985;Marchand-Reilly & Yaure 2019;Tweed & Ryff, 1996).…”

Family of Origin Characteristics and Symptomatology in a Counseling Center Population

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Family climate in children living with parents who harmfully consume alcohol

“…Finally, living with a parent with alcohol use disorder increased the probability of having perceived higher levels of emotional response, attitude towards illness and expectations from parents increased the probability of being exposed to lower parental pleasure and of having represented worse family relationships. The literature (Moos & Billings, 1982; Tweed & Ryff, 1996) widely showed that families with a parent with a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder are characterized by conflict, less cohesion, disruption and arguments between parents, as well as among parents and children. Moreover, higher levels of parental unpredictability and inconsistency in alcoholic families (Ross & Hill, 2004) were reported; parents with a substance use disorder often lack in providing discipline in family and expect their children being competent in several tasks (Kumpfer & DeMarsh, 1986), and children living with parents with alcohol use disorder are frequently exposed to unpredictable parental behaviours, such as unfulfilled promises, inconsistent punishments and arbitrary rewards (Sher, 1997; Wegscheider‐Cruse, 1989).…”

“…One limitation is the relatively small sample size, which does not allow to investigate possible differences between subgroups of children living with parents who harmfully consume alcohol stratifying for sex or number of parents presenting an alcohol use disorder. Tweed and Ryff (1996) highlighted sex differences in the perception of parent–child relationship among young adults who grew up in alcoholic families. Specifically, adult daughters of fathers with alcohol use disorder presented more negative relationships with their fathers as what concerns role performance, affective expression and control than adult sons.…”