Relationship of Parental Alcoholism to Family‐of‐Origin Functioning and Current Marital Satisfaction

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between parental alcoholism, family-of-origin functioning, and current marital satisfaction. Results indicated family-of-origin functioning is positively related to marital satisfaction. In addition, individuals with alcoholic parents reported lower family-of-origin functioning, and an interaction between gender and parental alcoholism was found for marital satisfaction.M arital satisfaction has been a frequent topic in the professional literature for several decades. A number of variables have recently been examined in relationship to marital satisfaction including stressful life events that have received only limited attention in the marital satisfaction literature have been family-of-origin functioning and parental alcoholism.In examining the relationship between family-of-origin issues and marital relationships, Fine and Hovestadt (1 984) found that individuals with healthier perceptions of their family of origin had more positive perceptions of marriage. Although these individuals did not discuss their own marriages for this study (all participants were single), the results indicated that positive family-of-origin experiences are related to positive perceptions of the institution of marriage.When examining the relationship between one's own marital satisfaction and family of origin functioning, Wamboldt and Reiss (1989) found that women who had greater expressiveness in their family of origin had higher current marital satisfaction. Similarly, Booth and Edwards (1989) found that negative family-of-origin experiences, in the form of parental divorce, were adversely related to subsequent marital relationships. In addition, even in those families in which parents remained married, poor family-of-origin experiences were related to numerous marital and family diffi-James L.

Marital satisfaction – a literature review

“…These findings are consistent with results of previous research which indicated that a level of marital satisfaction was relatively lower in spouses with adverse experiences in their families of origin (e.g., parental divorce) (Booth & Edwards, 1989;Wamboldt & Reiss, 1989). Campbell et al (1998) concluded that, although family-of-origin functioning was connected to marital satisfaction and that parental alcoholism was associated with family-of-origin functioning, there was no direct correlation between marital satisfaction and parental alcoholism.…”

“…James L. Campbell et al (1998) conducted a survey on female and male clients from outpatient counselling centres for alcoholics. Participants expressed a wide range of mental health concerns.…”

Parental Alcoholism and Family Functioning: Effects on Differentiation Levels of Young Adults

“…Children and families contend with a variety of detrimental effects from parental alcoholism (Campbell, Masters, & Johnson, 1998;Deming, Chase, & Karesh, 1996;Hall & Webster, 2002;Harter, 2000;Johnson, 2001;Jones, & Kinnick, 1995). For example, communication in alcoholic families is often more negative than in nonalcoholic families (Sheridan & Green, 1993).…”

Getting to the Root of Relationship Attributions: Family-of-Origin Perspectives on Self and Partner Views

“…Individuals raised in alcoholic homes have reported significantly lower perceived levels of FOO functioning than those who did not report such a history (Campbell et al 1998), and generally children whose parents' marriage ended in divorce report lower marital happiness and feel less positive about their marriages (Glen and Kramer 1987).…”