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AN ASSESSMENT OF A PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS
Abstract
The literature indicates that children of alcoholics are at high risk for the development of alcoholism and social and psychological maladjustment. Prevention programs have been designed to ameliorate the risk for future maladjustment and treat current deficits. This study attempts to assess the impact of a prevention program which consisted of six child group sessions, six parent group sessions, and six family sessions over a six week period. Alcohol education, psychosocial education, and psychotherapeutic interventions were employed with the treatment group (n = 20). Three control groups were comprised of nontreatment children of alcoholics (n = 13), children of parents receiving mental health services with no alcohol related problems (n = 6), and children of parents who exhibited no alcohol related problems and had not received mental health services within the past five years (n = 14). Knowledge, attitudes, behavior, and environmental and psychological characteristics were assessed pre, post, and eight months following intervention. Instruments include those designed for the intervention program and this study, Lafayette Clinic School Information Form, Connors Parent Checklist, Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale, Personality Inventory for Children, Piers-Harris Self Concept Scale, and Walker Problem Behavior Checklist. There appear to be no significant treatment effects for increased alcohol knowledge or change in attitudes. Less temperate attitudes toward personal future drinking as well as prosocial affiliative attitudes were maintained. Positive behavioral changes were found for a small group of behaviors on the Connors that reflect development, acting-out, and dysphoric behavior. Other behaviors, such as peer relations, alcohol and drug usage, and school behavior appear to have been unaffected by the intervention. Child and father perceptions of the home environment tended to remain stable over time, while significantly less problematic home environments following intervention were reported by the mothers. Significant changes in psychological functioning include more problematic adjustment in the area of withdrawal and improved adjustment in social skills and achievement. The apparently limited impact of the intervention is discussed in terms of pre-intervention functional level, selection biases, and possible instrumentation deficits. Continued evaluations of prevention programs and their assessment is suggested.
Subject Area
Psychotherapy
Recommended Citation
SULLIVAN WOODWARD, BARBARA, "AN ASSESSMENT OF A PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS" (1984). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8423832.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8423832