Alcoholism among Parents of Male and Female Alcoholics

Abstract

It is commonly assumed that female alcoholics have a higher percentage of family history of alcoholism than male alcoholics (3, 4, 5). These findings were taken to be an indication of deprived childhood, followed by maladjusunent and a higher degree of pathology among female alcoholics (5). Other clinical studies, however, demonstrated only small sex differences either on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (2) or in regard to psychiatric symptomatology, with females being only slightly more neurotic (1). The present smdy was designed to investigate on a large population of alcoholics, whether females report a higher degree of alcoholism for their parents than do males, with special consideration given the sex of the parent. Ss were 1474 male alcoholics (MnEs 46 yr.) and 220 female alcoholics (M.,. 44 yr.) consecutively admitted to Willmar State Hospital during the year 1971-72. Ss were administered a demographic inventory including drinking behavior of their relatives. The rate of abstinence reported among mothers of female alcoholics was 63% and of male alcoholics 67% (x 1.1 1, dt = 1). Alcoholism among mothers was reported to be 6% for female alcoholics and 5% lor male alcoholics (xa = 1.06, dj = 1). The rate of alcoholism reported among fathers of female alcoholics was 26% and of male alcoholics 24% (X2 = .36, df = 1). Abstinence among fathers was reported to be 32% for female alcoholics and 25% for male alcoholics (x' = 4.39, df = 1, p < .05). It is concluded that sex differences among alcoholics with respect to parental drinking are of minor importances, just as assessed pathology established only minor differences for sex. REFERENCES 1. HOFFMANN, H., & WEFRING, L. R. Sex and age differences in psychiatric symptoms of alcoholics. Psychological Reports, 1972, 30, 887-889.