Adult Children of Alcoholics: The Effects of Background and Treatment on ACOA Symptoms

This research attempts to identify the factors that differentiate adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs). A national purposive sample of ACOAs (n = 500) was administered an ACOA index measuring ACOA symptoms. An ANOVA analysis for the ACOA index scores showed gender, minority race or ethnicity, rating of parents' relationship, receiving help as a child, and seeking treatment as an adult to have significant effects. Notably, minorities scored significantly lower on the ACOA index, and seeking treatment increased the scores, even in interaction with parents' relationship and receiving help as a child. These findings point to the need for differentiating treatment for ACOAs and developing more effective treatment in general. They also confirm the importance of offering even informal support to children in troubled families.