Are adult children of dysfunctional families with alcoholism different from adult children of dysfunctional families without alcoholism? A look at committed, intimate relationships.

Abstract

Investigating the validity of classifying adult children of dysfunctional families with alcoholism (ACDFAs) as a unique population, this study compared ACDFAs with adult children of dysfunctional families without alcoholism (ACDFs) and adult children of functional families (ACFFs) on current relationship satisfaction. Participants (N = 126) were from a community sample. No significant difference between the ACDFAs and the ACDFs was found; however, both ACDFAs and ACDFs displayed significantly more difficulty with problem-solving communication than the ACFFs. Regression results indicated that dysfunction in the family of origin is significantly related to global distress and difficulties with problem-solving communication in current intimate relationships. Results do not lend support to the utility of classifying ACDFAs as a unique population.