Dissertations / Theses: 'Adult children of alcoholics – Mental health'

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Sams, Khia L. "Forgiveness, Mental Health, and Adult Children of Alcoholics." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2012. https://dc.etsu.edu/honors/157.

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Research has shown that spirituality can play a role in addiction and recovery. However, little work in this area has focused on adults who have grown up with parents who have had alcohol and/or drug problems. Cross-sectional data was collected from college students from a regional university in southern Appalachia. Multiple dimensions and aspects of forgiveness and mental health were examined among undergraduates, including differences based upon participants’ likelihood of being an adult child of an alcoholic (ACOA). Individuals likely to be an ACOA had poorer levels of the forgiveness and mental health related variables. Among ACOAs forgiveness of others was associated with psychological distress and somatic symptoms in a deleterious fashion. Forgiveness of situations was associated with mental health status, psychological distress, and dysfunctional behaviors associated with being an ACOA in a salutary fashion. The process of forgiveness intervention may be an added benefit during the recovery process associated with growing up as a child in an alcoholic family.

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Settle, Karen Ree. "Intimate Relationships of Adult Children of Alcoholics." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1988. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc331220/.

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Difficulties developing and maintaining intimate relationships are often attributed to adult children of alcoholics (ACAs). However, the focus of the literature has been on those obtaining psychological treatment and has primarily involved clinical impressions. The purpose of this study was to examine intimacy in the close friendships and love relationships of ACAs. Autonomy and intimacy in respondents' families of origin were also analyzed. Comparisons were made between ACAs currently in (n = 59) and not in (n = 53) therapy, and comparisons who had (n = 48) and had not (n = 77) received therapy. Alcoholics were eliminated. It was hypothesized that ACAs would score significantly lower than comparisons on love and friendship intimacy and autonomy and intimacy in their families of origin. Among the ACAs, those in therapy would score lower than those not in therapy. Hypotheses were tested using MANOVAS. ANOVAs were administered where there were significant differences, and Newman-Keuls contrasts further delineated the divergence. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to obtain explanatory data. The two ACA groups seem to represent distinct populations with those not in therapy failing to report intimacy differences previously ascribed to them. While all of the groups were similar in friendship closeness, only the ACAs in therapy had significantly less intimacy in love relationships. Furthermore, clinical ACAs differed from the other groups by having less family of origin health, more physical and sexual abuse, more maternal drinking, more depression, and more suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Family of origin health predicted intimacy in a love relationship. Family characteristics encompassing honesty, empathy and respect, which may or may not involve alcoholism, seemed to create an atmosphere of faulty parenting in the ACA clinical group which may have subsequently affected the child's intimacy in a love relationship. Results of the study support a developmental model and demonstrate the importance of including nonclinical ACAs as well as clinical comparisons in future research.

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Kieley, Jeanie Martin. "Resiliency in adult children of alcoholics." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 1994. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/955.

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Alcaraz, Roxanna. "What, if anything, are adult children of alcoholics?" CSUSB ScholarWorks, 1991. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/741.

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Gaff-Clark, Carla J. "Qualitative analysis of chemically recovering persons who were raised in alcoholic families and their perceptions of treatment plans." Virtual Press, 2001. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1214971.

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The purpose of this study was to gather insights from recovering (from addictions) Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA) at Pathway to Recovery, Inc., Indianapolis, IN, who have participated in a pilot family addictions treatment group. This research gives evidence on the group counseling support that ACA group members reported they received and/or determined they needed to receive regarding: their (1) addictions and recovery; (2) specific family of origin roles; and (3) basic ACA issues; as well as information needed to continue living a healthy, productive, drug-free life-style, and; the assistance counselors/therapists could give in this endeavor.A case study methodology was used for this research. Eight informants were purposively selected from a total of 45 ACA group members. Three interviews were conducted with each of the eight informants. Retrospective, structured, and semi-structured interviews, as described by Fraenkel and Wallen (1996) were utilized. Since an interview guide was unavailable for use in this study, one was created.The following four conclusions were drawn from the results of this study:1. The evidence collected suggests that the eight informants benefited from the three-pronged (addictions, ACA issues, specific family role) Recovery, Inc.2. The evidence (detailed in Chapter Four) indicated that many of the actions described herein assisted informants after leaving the ACA group and that the group was responsible for many of the positive changes.3. Accepting oneself was identified most often as the step needed to achieve and maintain sobriety.4. Learning about family issues and studying childhood behaviors may be painful as well as helpful.Results of this study were not generalized beyond these eight informants. However, this study contributed new information to the field of addictions and family roles research by describing the actions, behaviors, thoughts and feelings of these eight informants.
Department of Educational Leadership

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Mattson, Susan Renee. "Talking about drugs: Examining self-disclosure and trust in adult children from substance abusive families." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2005. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/2734.

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The main purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between drugs of choice that family members abused and the non-addicted family member's levels of self-disclosure, self-disclosure avoidance, and trust.

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Olofsson, Lilly. "Stuck in a loop : A project about feeling mentally stuck." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för design (DE), 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-96663.

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Combining psychology literature, social media platforms and collaboration with online communities, this visual communication project explores the experiences and struggles of people that have grown up in dysfunctional households. The intent of this project is to share stories from people who struggle with feeling mentally stuck, in order to fight the stigma surrounding mental health related issues.

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Marin, Kathleen Bassler. "Self esteem and interpersonal behavior in adult children of alcoholics /." The Ohio State University, 1988. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487596807823746.

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Martens, Marcy. "A Phenomenological Examination of Resilience in Adult Children of Alcoholics." ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/6351.

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Researchers have identified adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) as being susceptible to substance abuse, intimate partner violence, mental health instability, and a myriad of psychosocial inadequacies. Growing up within an adverse childhood environment has also imprinted an unwanted stigma among ACOAs. Although there are many studies on the ACOA population, there is a significant gap in the literature between ACOAs exhibiting resilience and those who succumb to the negative characteristics of growing up within an adverse environment. The purpose of this hermeneutic, phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of adult children of alcoholics who have succeeded despite their upbringing. A purposive sample of 11 participants from the northwestern United States were interviewed regarding their childhood experiences. The overarching research question was focused on how resilience has affected their life, and the secondary research question addressed perspectives regarding positive adaptation and the stigma of familial alcoholism. The theoretical frameworks that provided support included the health belief model as well as the social cognitive theory, and hermeneutic phenomenological study helped identify and construct the essence of the phenomenon from in-depth interviews from participants. Common themes (perseverance, positivity, and determination) were identified and categorized for ease of analysis. The results contribute to positive social change by helping health care providers in delivering valuable, pertinent assistance to those ACOAs who continue to struggle for a better quality of life.

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Webb, Jon R., Bridget R. Jeter, Julie I. Hunter, David Bumgarner, Kayla Mitchell, and Jameson K. Hirsch. "Mindfulness, Psychological Distress and Suicidal Behavior in Adult Children of Alcoholics." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2014. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/617.

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Dooley, Sandra Y. "A Comparison of Adult Children of Alcoholic Families with Adult Children from Non-Alcoholic Families: a Replication." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1996. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc279247/.

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The purpose of this study was to re-examine the issue of whether adult children of alcoholics experience more depression, anxiety, and lower self-esteem than do children of non-alcoholic families. This study is a replication of the study of David Dodd, entitled A Comparison of Adult Children of Alcoholic Families with Adult Children from Non-Alcoholic Families. 1990. The measures used in this study were as follows: Children of Alcoholics Screening Test, the Beck Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Coopersmith Adult Self-Esteem Inventory, and a questionnaire developed by this writer designed to obtain family history regarding not only alcoholism, but other issues of family dysfunctionality as well. The subjects for this study were 231 students enrolled in the counselor education program at this university, all aged 19 or older. Of the 230 subjects, 31 were male and 199 were female. Eleven males identified themselves as children of alcoholics, as measured by the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test, and 60 females identified themselves as children of alcoholics. Thus, a total of 71 subjects in this study were identified as children of alcoholics. T-tests were conducted to see whether any differences existed between the male and female groups. No significant differences were found. Results of this study showed that family dysfunctionality rather than parental alcoholism was the factor of variability regarding depression, anxiety, and self-esteem. There appears to be a strong relationship between parental alcoholism and family dysfunctionality, but dysfunctionality clearly has more impact upon depression, anxiety, and self-esteem in the adult children of these families than does alcoholism.

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Dodd, David T. (David Tennyson) 1957. "A Comparison of Adult Children of Alcoholic Families with Adult Children From Non-Alcoholic Families on Depression, Self-Esteem, and Anxiety." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1990. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc331053/.

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The problem of this study was to test the differences between adult children from alcoholic families with adult children from non-alcoholic families on levels of depression, self-esteem, and anxiety. The sample consisted of 203 volunteers, all from the Counselor Education Department, 150 females and 53 males, ages 19 and older. Volunteers who were noted as being adult children of alcoholic families numbered 60. Measures used were the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Coopersmith Adult Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI). Multivariate Analysis of Variance was used to test for differences between groups. In addition, a secondary analysis using a one-way MANOVA was used to test for differences between dysfunctional and functional family of origin status on the dependent variables of depression, self-esteem, and anxiety.

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Mayeux, Alexis. "Adaptive Functioning and Attachments in Adult-Children of Early Childhood Divorce." Thesis, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 2019. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10843664.

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Research on the negative impact of divorce on children’s well-being is extensive and indicates that, on average, children from divorced families suffer from more adjustment difficulties than those whose families remained intact. However, few studies have been done on the specific long-term effects on individuals who experienced parental divorce when they were particularly young. Are there maladaptive behaviors, or other implications for adult adjustment? This study explores the adaptive functioning of a college population of young adults whose parents divorced between the ages of two and seven. Participants completed questionnaires on demographic information, current level of functioning, parental marital status, and survey items taken from reliable measures. The responses of participants who were between the ages of two and seven during time of divorce were compared to the responses of two control groups: individuals whose parents divorced after the age of seven, and individuals whose families remained intact. Results indicated that marital status grouping (early divorce, later divorce, or intact family) did have a significant effect on certain aspects of adaptive functioning. Adult children of early childhood divorce indicated lower formal educational attainment, lower financial status, more reports of mental health diagnosis, higher number of transitory adult intimate relationships, less secure attachment to father, lower self-esteem, and greater learned helplessness than both later childhood divorce and intact family participants. The developmental timeframe in which divorce occurs plays a key role in young adult adaptive functioning.

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Edwards, Valerie Joan. "The risk of sexual assault and mental health problems in adult daughters of battered women /." Digital version accessible at:, 1998. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/utexas/main.

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Finlay-Carruthers, Gemma. "Experiences of family members of adult children in forensic services and their interactions with mental health professionals." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 2016. http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/33263/.

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The importance of family caregiver involvement in (secure) mental health services has been increasingly recognised and there is a wide consensus that family caregivers should be seen by clinicians as partners in the care of patients (Harvey & Ramsay, 2004). Mental health carers however, especially those caring for relatives who are subject to compulsory care and treatment, often feel overlooked and marginalised, caring in complex circumstances with little or no support. This thesis focuses specifically on the views and experiences of parents of adult children in forensic mental health services. A structured review and synthesis of qualitative studies was undertaken to develop insight into the perceived level of involvement in care, from the perspective of family members of mental health service users. The review also examines family carers’ relationships and engagement with mental health professionals. This highlighted that the practices of some professionals contribute to the distress experienced by caregivers in this marginalised group. The empirical research study, employed a qualitative design conducted within the framework of IPA, and explored what it is like for parents with an adult son or daughter with mental illness and offending background detained in a regional medium secure unit. Findings indicated that parents’ experiences were characterised by a strained relationship with mental health services, accompanied by practical difficulties in getting help in the first place, and conflicting emotions felt in response to their unwell family member’s continued detention in the forensic care setting. Following on from this, a case study describes brief family psycho-education in secure care and illustrates how staff in forensic services can collaborate with parents more empathetically and effectively. Afterwards, the Family Relations Test, an instrument that assesses affective relations from the child’s perspective is critically reviewed. The utility of this tool in clinical practice is remarked upon. In the concluding chapter, the ways in which service delivery and research can be influenced by ‘giving a voice’ to parents of forensic clients is explored, and implications of the findings are discussed with reference to the current recognition of family and social inclusion.

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Diamond, Donna Jo, and Geneva Naomi Hannigan. "Intervention outcome differences for adult children of domestic violence." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2008. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/3363.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate intervention outcomes for domestic violence in families and adult children. This study targeted intervention outcomes of families and adult children from domestic violence homes for the purpose of comparing those self referred versus those who were mandated for intervention.

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Raymond, Kathryn Y. "Parents Caring for Adult Children With Serious Mental Illness: A Qualitative Descriptive Study: A Dissertation." eScholarship@UMMS, 2016. https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/gsn_diss/40.

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The purpose of this study was to examine parents’ management styles when caring for adult children with serious mental illness (SMI), as well as parents’ perspectives on what type of community-based mental health interventions would support and/or enhance overall family functioning. This qualitative descriptive study was undergirded by Knafl and Deatrick’s Family Management Style Framework. Thirty parents (N = 30) caring for adult children with SMI over age 18 were recruited as participants. Demographic data included age, gender, ethnicity, educational level, annual income, and National Alliance on Mental Illness membership. Parents were interviewed in their homes or other private setting. Verbal informed consent was obtained. Audio-recorded, individual, semistructured interviews were conducted until redundancy was achieved. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Four major themes emerged from the data. These themes described prolonged, difficult, and confusing phases that parents and the family undergo in caring for an adult child with SMI. These phases have a progressive nature, moving from parents recognizing that their child has a SMI to redefining family life as a result of caring for an adult child with SMI. Successful management of these phases must include increasing access to mental health information, mental health screening, early interventions, violence prevention, and various treatment options for adult children and their families.

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Reisbig, Allison M. J. "The lived experiences of adult children of cross-dressing fathers : a retrospective account." Diss., Manhattan, Kan. : Kansas State University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/303.

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Taylor-Potter, Sheila. "Effects of past parental alienation and ongoing estrangement from adult children on non-custodial parents as they age." Thesis, California State University, Long Beach, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1585526.

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This study was designed to explore how the experience of past parental alienation and current estrangement from adult child(ren) affected aging alienated parents particularly in the domains of depression and life satisfaction. This study also explored the link between past parental alienation and late-life estrangement from adult child(ren). The sample of 65 participants responded to an online survey after responding to a recruitment flyer posted on Craig's List.

The results showed mild to moderate levels of depression and moderate dissatisfaction with life among the study participants. Higher levels of parental alienation were significantly associated with higher levels of depression and greater dissatisfaction with life. Participants also overwhelmingly reported that past parental alienation had contributed to their current estrangement from their adult child(ren).

Further research is needed on the impact of parental alienation on the well-being of aging parents.

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Tinnfält, Agneta. "Adolescents' perspectives : on mental health, being at risk, and promoting initiatives." Doctoral thesis, Örebro universitet, Hälsoakademin, 2008. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-2589.

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Mental health is a major child public health issue in Sweden. The overall aims of this thesis are to explore girls’ and boys’ perspectives on mental health and on mental health-promoting initiatives, and to deepen the knowledge of disclosure and support for ado-lescents at risk of abuse and neglect. Four studies are included in the thesis, and a qualitative descriptive design was chosen. In three of the studies (Studies I, II, and III), adolescents in Sweden were interviewed individually or in focus-groups. In the fourth study (IV) officials and politicians in nine municipalities in Sweden were interviewed, and documents were analysed in a multiple-case-study design. In study I the adolescents were asked about the mental health-promoting dialogue with the school nurse. The results reveal that what the adolescents found important were trustiness, attentiveness, respectfulness, authenticity, accessibility, and continuity. The adolescents also had certain views on what issues to talk about in the health dialogue; physical and psychological issues should be included. In Study II, the adolescents perceived “mental health” to be an emotional experience with positive and negative aspects of internal and relational feelings. Family, friends, and school were regarded as important determinants of mental health by the adolescents. Neither girls nor boys thought that there were any major differences in mental health between girls and boys, but did think they were subject to different expectations. In Study III the results show that adolescents with families with alcohol problems are unsure whether to disclose their home situation to an adult; the adolescents seem to make a risk assessment when looking for trustworthy adults. It is a disclosure process. Friends are confidants and supportive, and sometimes facilitators for contacting adults, when support from adults is needed. Study IV show that even small grants to municipalities for children-at-risk projects lead to more activities for these children and adolescents. But children or adolescents were not involved in the planning or decision-making of the activities. The studies in this thesis show that most important thing for adolescents’ mental health is the relation between adolescents and adults, foremost parents, and between adolescents and friends. In addition, gender and age, adolescents’ perspec¬tives and par-ticipation, and society’s support, including the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, have an impact on adolescents’ mental health, both for ado-lescents in general and for adolescents at risk of abuse and neglect. The results are viewed in relation to the bioecological model, to illustrate how all levels in society influence mental health among adolescents, on an individual and a population plane. The findings have implications for adults: to learn more about adolescents and puberty, and about the home situation for children and adolescents at risk of abuse and neglect; to listen to suggestions from children and adolescents; to include friends in support to adolescents at risk of abuse and neglect; and to include girls and boys in all matters concerning them.

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Walker, Kevin. "Maternal Relationship, Social Stigma, and Advocacy Among Young Adult Children of Mothers Living with Depression." Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1552514308625197.

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Collins, Ricketts Joan. "The Lived Experiences of Adult Children of Mid to Later-life Parental Divorce: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis." NSUWorks, 2015. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_dft_etd/19.

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This study examined the lived experiences of adult children of mid-later life parental divorce. It was designed and conducted to address the gap in the current literature regarding this phenomenon. The experiences of 5 Adult Children of Divorce (ACD) ages 25 to 45, who experienced mid-later life parental divorce, were examined using in-depth semi-structured interviews. The researcher employed an interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) of which the findings illustrated various outcomes for adults experiencing their parents’ mid-later life divorce. The results of this study showed that parents’ waiting until the children are “grown” does not mitigate potentially detrimental outcomes for these “adult children.” Some of these concerns shared by the ACDs interviewed included: dealing with the shock of the divorce, the acrimonious parental relationships post divorce, feeling the need to choose sides, effects of the divorce on the ACDs' children, among others. Future studies and implications for the field of marriage and family therapy were offered.

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Dods, Virginia, and mikewood@deakin edu au. "Fracturing the facade : Exploring the impact of childhood sexual abuse." Deakin University. School of Psychology, 2003. http://tux.lib.deakin.edu.au./adt-VDU/public/adt-VDU20050722.150048.

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Examination of previous empirical literature illustrates how researchers have concentrated on documenting the impact of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) on the later psychological functioning of survivors, through comparisons with those who have not had such a history. Only more recently has there been a focus on assessing the relationship between aspects of the abuse and specific psychological difficulties. This thesis investigated the relationships between CSA characteristics and womens later psychological adjustment. The role of attributions, coping methods, parenting competency and marital satisfaction were also investigated. Qualitative data on perception of benefit and general reflections of participants were used to explore participants self-esteem, locus of control, decisions relating to parenting, disclosure experiences, and attributions in relation to their abuse, including the search for meaning. Recruitment through newspapers and counselling services led to 118 women volunteering to complete a questionnaire evaluating the characteristics of their CSA and their current psychological adjustment. Of this group, 33 subsequently volunteered to participate in a telephone interview that explored in greater depth issues related to the long-term impact of their CSA. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted on the data. The women reported a high prevalence of dysfunction in their families of origin. Abuse had generally commenced by middle childhood, and lasted for a number of years and often involved a number of perpetrators. Perpetrators were most likely to be intrafamilial, with stepfathers being over-represented. Sexual activities generally involved physical contact, with participation often induced by the use of coercion. Participants demonstrated significant difficulties in psychological adjustment, but attributions regarding the abuse improved over time. Some concerns were expressed regarding parenting competency, and avoidant coping methods were favoured. In general, participants were satisfied with their current marital relationship. Significant associations were found between coping methods, attributional style, beliefs and various psychological adjustment measures. Participants, in general, demonstrated low self-esteem and displayed an external locus of control. As a consequence of their experience of CSA, many participants reported they had decided not to have children. For those who did have children, CSA was almost universally seen as having had an impact on their parenting. Disclosure of CSA was usually delayed for a number of years, with poor outcomes generally resulting from disclosure when it occurred. Women with current partners rated them as very caring and not controlling. Participants were generally still searching for meaning in their abuse, despite many having accepted it. Survivors outlined an extensive range of long-term effects of CSA, and nominated a number of strategies that would assist in reducing these effects. The results of the study indicated that there are a number of characteristics associated with CSA which signal a higher risk of difficulties in psychological adjustment. Concerns of survivors regarding parenting were confirmed according to those who undertook this role. Unfortunately, concerns expressed by survivors that disclosure of their CSA would have had negative consequences was usually the case when they did finally disclose. However, the accessing of social and family support appeared to have an important role in changing the attributions of survivors regarding their CSA. Furthermore, change of attributions in relation to abuse may provide the key to resilience in survivors against the negative impact of CSA on later psychological adjustment.

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Hodgson, Kelley. "“STANDING ON THE FRONT LINES AND DOWN IN THE TRENCHES WITH HER”: AN EXPLORATION OF THE DIALECTICAL TENSIONS AND COMPETING GOALS OF ADULT CHILDREN OF MENTALLY ILL PARENTS." UKnowledge, 2019. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/comm_etds/81.

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Mental illness is a pervasive health epidemic in the United States and worldwide, and available data suggest that mentally ill adults are statistically more likely to be parents than non-parents. The prevalence and continued growth of parental mental illness means that millions of children in the United States have a parent with some form of mental health issues. This dissertation contributes to and extends existing literature on children of mentally ill parents by exploring 15 adult children’s subjective perspectives on how they navigate the tension-wrought experience of having a mentally ill parent, and how this has implications for the management of their identity, relational, and instrumental goals. Examined through the lens of relational dialectics theory (Baxter & Montgomery, 1996) and a multiple goals perspective, analysis revealed that adult children of mentally ill parents confront conflicting, contradictory forces in making sense of their parent’s illness and the role that it plays in their lives. Specifically, adult children reported feeling a strong sense of interdependence with their parent and a desire to have a closer relationship with them, but simultaneously expressed a strong need and desire for disconnection and maintenance of a life separate from their parent’s challenges. Additionally, adult children noted conflicting goals with regard to privacy management about their parent’s illness, acknowledging that an underlying, but pervasive societal stigma surrounding mental health keeps them from freely disclosing to others about their parent’s illness, but indicating that a certain strategic degree of openness was required in order to meet certain instrumental and relational goals. Finally, participants revealed many fears and anxieties that they had about the future as a result of the unstable nature of their parent’s mental illness, while at the same time expressing a sense of acceptance and stability with the predictably unpredictable nature of their lives. After presenting an analysis of the data, the implications of the findings for children of mentally ill parents are explored, including, but not limited to, how the results of this exploratory study could be integrated into therapeutic and support interventions for families of those struggling with mental health issues. Finally, the limitations of the study are addressed.

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Jahn, Linda. "Women Who Survived Childhood Sexual Abuse: Do Their Coping Strategies Vary by Personality Type as Measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator?" Thesis, University of North Texas, 1996. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278897/.

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Through a phenomenological qualitative approach, this study examined possible differences of introverted versus extraverted adult female survivors of childhood sexual abuse with regard to the coping mechanisms they chose. Preference modalities of introversion and extraversion were measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and data was collected through a semi-structured interview designed by the researcher. The interview contained questions about the 21 subjects' perceptions of their abuse and the ways in which they coped. Specific coping mechanisms included but were not limited to eating disorders, alcohol and/or drug abuse, high risk behavior, depression, anxiety, and somatic complaints. Results indicated that for both groups, the degree to which each of the individual coping mechanisms was used congregated at the level of "a driven pattern of behavior lasting for at least 7 days" or "on-going use resulting in severe problems". Extraverts showed higher percentages of severe use of the six coping mechanisms than did introverts. Depression was the most frequently used coping mechanism of both the introverts and the extraverts. Introverts showed higher percentages of stopping the use of eating disorders, alcohol/drug abuse, high risk behavior, and depression. Extraverts had higher percentages of discontinued use of anxiety and somatic problems. Introverts reported more somatic complaints, while extraverts reported more severe somatic problems. The most often reported somatic complaints of both groups were arthritis, migraines, sleep difficulty, nightmares, and gastrointestinal problems. The majority of each group used most of the coping mechanisms at some time, suggesting a need for therapeutic intervention that considers the possibility of difficulties stemming from combined use of many of these coping mechanisms in addition to focusing on the trauma of the sexual abuse itself.

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Draper, Meredith Lee 1972. "Adult children of alcoholics : an exploration of heterogeneity utilizing childhood roles, family of origin health, and adult attachment styles." 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/2152/18325.

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Research reports that an estimated forty-three percent of adults, or seventy-six million people, in the United States have relatives who are alcoholic. In addition, one in eight individuals, or an estimated 30 million adults, has an alcoholic parent. The literature suggests that the impact of growing up in an alcoholic family system may affect psychological functioning well into adulthood. Adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) are at increased risk for a myriad of psychological symptoms including substance abuse/dependency, problems in interpersonal relationships, depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. However, research has also indicated that there may be more heterogeneity within this group than previously reported. It has been suggested that while patterns of maladjustment and increased risk for psychological distress may be evident, no clear “syndrome” related to this population was supported. This study explored whether an ACOA’s childhood family role (i.e. Hero, Scapegoat, Mascot and Lost Child) explained variance within this population, using adult attachment and family of origin health as outcome measures. Results did not support this hypothesis. This study also examined between group differences in adult attachment styles and family of origin health between a sample of ACOAs and Non-ACOAs. Analysis indicated that ACOAs reported significantly more Fearful attachment styles than Non-ACOAs. As well, post-hoc analyses indicated that ACOAs described their families of origin as promoting significantly less personal responsibility, as well as, having lower support for the expression of emotions and constructive conflict resolution than Non-ACOAs. This study provides information which may be utilized by clinicians working with this population. The impact of less secure attachment styles within the therapeutic relationship should be considered. As well, this study provides evidence that a specific pattern of maladjustment secondary to the dynamics created by the disease of addiction may be present within alcoholic family systems that may differentiate them from other “dysfunctional” families.
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Case, Stephanie M. "Is depression a stronger risk factor for cardiovascular disease among individuals with a history of adverse childhood experiences?" Thesis, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/4833.

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Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Epidemiologic studies suggest that depression is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although several possible mediators of this association have been proposed, few studies have examined the role of moderators. Accordingly, I examined adverse childhood experiences (ACE) as a potential moderator of the depression-CVD association, given that individuals with a history of ACE show a greater inflammatory response to depression, and inflammation plays a role in the development of CVD. Data from Waves 1 and 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) were analyzed. Participants were 29,282 adults (58% female, 42% non–white) aged 18–97 years, free of CVD diagnoses at baseline. Lifetime depressive disorder (LDD) was assessed by the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule–IV (AUDADIS–IV), and adverse childhood experiences (abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction), and CVD were assessed during separate interviews. The primary outcome was incident CVD (n = 1,255), defined as nonfatal arteriosclerosis, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and/or stroke reported during the Wave 2 interviews. All analyses were adjusted for demographic and traditional CVD risk factors. Logistic regression models revealed that both LDD (OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.28–1.62, p < .001) and any ACE (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.16–1.35, p < .001) were independent predictors of incident CVD. Interactions between LDD x any ACE (p = .024), LDD x neglect (p = .003), and LDD x household dysfunction (p < .001), but not LDD x abuse (p = 0.16), were detected. Analyses stratified by the ACE variables revealed that LDD was a predictor of incident CVD among adults with a history of (1) any ACE (OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.32–1.73, p < .001), but not among those without a history (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 0.87–1.50, p = .332); (2) neglect (OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.36–1.87, p < .001) and among those without a history (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.07–1.62, p = .005); (3) household dysfunction (OR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.46–2.04, p < .001), but not among those without a history (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 0.96–1.43, p = .11). Overall, the present findings suggest that depression may be a stronger risk factor for CVD among adults with a history of ACE, especially neglect and household dysfunction, than among adults who did not have these experiences.

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Moraba, Morwaphiri Ishmael. "The impact of parental alcoholism on adolescent children: an educational guidance approach." Thesis, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10210/9251.

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D.Ed. (Educational Psychology)
As a family constitutes the primary educational relationship of a child, and a child's development depends almost entirely on these relationships, it stands to reason that one would expect children with well-balanced personalities to be found in families characterized by a reasonable degree of sound family relationships that ensure concern, care, love and guidance. This is because men and women are not only themselves; they are also the region in which they were born, the city apartment or farm where they learned to walk, the games they played as children, the old wives' tales they overheard, the food they ate, the schools they attended, the sports they participated in, the poems they read and the God they believe in. Man is thus not only himself, but also what his environment makes of him (Purkey, 1970:34; Loubser, 1993: 13). It can,therefore, be concluded that children who grow up in an unhealthy family will probably grow up unhealthy as a result...

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29

Papakyriakou, Beba. "Mental health service provision in South Africa and women’s sexual violations against children." Thesis, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/23729.

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Mental health services in South Africa and the field of psychology are not keeping up with the changed landscape of child sexual abuse that includes women who perpetrate these violations. New laws have not made a massive impact on out of control behaviours, while the paucity of mental health services for women who sexually violate children is a significant failing in mental health service provision. Exploratory, descriptive research approached the topic from the perspective of the psychology of healing rather than the psychology of wrongdoing. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 38 professionals in relevant fields, purposefully selected in four provinces in South Africa that revealed a lack of knowledge, resources, and funding, as well as gaps in curricula. Some practitioners were willing to work with women who sexually violate children, while others were either unwilling or reluctant to do so for various reasons. Women who sexually violate children are typically not mentally ill but could have mental disorders and lives dominated by dysfunction and trauma. Data were analysed utilising Attride- Stirling’s (2001) thematic networks, while Gannon, Rose, and Ward’s (2008) descriptive model of female sexual offending (DMFSO) provided the theoretical framework. Recommendations include establishing online services to aid perpetrator disclosure and therapeutic interventions, providing individual psychotherapeutic interventions to uncover more than recent trauma, directing donor funding to sex offender programmes, networking among service providers including government agencies, and training those within the mental health services environment and the criminal justice system. Furthermore, mental health and relevant medical practitioners need to ensure comfort with their sexuality and to resolve their psychological blind spots before offering psychotherapeutic interventions to women who sexually violate children.
Psychology
Ph. D. (Psychology)

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30

Hill, Terrence Dean. "Relationship violence and the health of low-income women with children." Thesis, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/2152/2531.

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31

Fulford, Claire Natalie. "Adult children of divorce : patterns of organisation characterising committed relationships." Diss., 1995. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/16818.

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This study aims to present an alternative framework with which to view the phenomenon of parental divorce and its perceived consequences for adult children of divorce in committed relationships. Research done within the traditional Newtonian framework is reviewed and its limitations explicated. The epistemological presuppositions of the new epistemology are presented along with their implications for conducting research. The importance of description as research methodology is emphasised. Written descriptions from various adult children of divorce are presented. Metadescriptions, by the author, are presented. These metadescriptions, based on the presuppositions of the new epistemology, highlight the value of describing the patterns of organisation which characterise the committed relationships of adult children of divorce. It is concluded that an alternative approach, based on the new epistemology, enlarges our understanding of the adult child of divorce within the context of a committed relationship.
Psychology
M.A. (Psychology)

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Ramasar, Anandra Devi. "The effects of childhood sexual abuse on adult females." Diss., 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/15856.

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Text in English
This study examined the effects of childhood sexual abuse on the emotional functioning of adult female survivors and the impact on their relationships with their spouse I partner and child I children. Literature reveals that sexual abuse has negative long-term effects on adult survivors, including psychological impairments. To study this phenomenon, a psycho-educational perspective was utilised. A clinical, judgmental sample of sixteen adult female survivors who attributed their current difficulties and problems to their childhood sexual experience was selected and an in-depth qualitative study was undertaken. The Emotions Profile Index Personality Test, a Questionnaire and an Interview were used to determine the present emotional functioning of the survivors and the impact on their relationships. The conclusions reached were that childhood sexual abuse had a detrimental effect on the emotional functioning of survivors and this impacted negatively on their relationships with their spouse I partner and child I children.
Psychology of Education
M. Ed. (Psychology of Education, with specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)

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33

Cowburn, I. Malcolm. "Confidentiality and public protection: Ethical dilemmas in qualitative research with adult male sex offenders." 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/3508.

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No
This paper considers the ethical tensions present when engaging in in-depth interviews with convicted sex offenders. Many of the issues described below are similar to those found in other sensitive areas of research. However, confidentiality and public protection are matters that require detailed consideration when the desire to know more about men who have committed serious and harmful offences is set against the possibility of a researcher not disclosing previously unknown sensitive information that relates to the risk of someone being harmed.

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Reddy, Kamaladevi. "Adolescents' experience of the impact of alcoholism in their families : an educational psychological perspective." Diss., 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/2766.

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35

Mathye, Lethabo Violet. "Guidelines for parents, teachers and professionals in the handling of rebellious children." Diss., 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/18170.

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Rebelliousness is the act of defying lawful authority or a resistant way of relating to authority. It is seen by many as a normal way of development. The development of rebellious behavior actually starts in childhood and progresses through to adulthood. The study focuses on the manner in which the family and school handle the rebellious child and the negative effects that these have on the child's development. These problems may manifest in truancy, delinquency, negativism, runaway, antisocial behavior, alcohol and substance abuse and gang involvement. The results of the study prove that the environment in which the adolescent lives, contribute greatly to the development and the maintenance of rebellious behavior. Guidelines were written for parents, teachers and psychologists regarding the handling of the rebellious child.
Psychology of Education
M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Adult children of alcoholics – Mental health'

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