Generational boundary distortions by adult children of alcoholics: Child-as-parent and child-as-mate
- 1 December 1992
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in The American Journal of Family Therapy
- Vol. 20 (4) , 291-299
- https://doi.org/10.1080/01926189208250899
Abstract
The present study examined whether adult male and female children of alcoholic and nonalcoholic parents (N=30/group) differentially exhibit generational boundary distortions. On an objective parentification measure, the female adult children of alcoholics showed significant signs of having assumed excessive caretaking responsibilities in their families-of-origin. A subsample was also administered a projective measure of boundary distortions (child-as-parent and child-as-mate). Significantly more male and female adult children of alcoholics exhibited distortions than the comparison group. Differential results for male and female adult children of alcoholics on the objective and projective indices of boundary distortions are discussed.Keywords
This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit:
- Treatment of parental children and their families: Conceptual and technical issuesThe American Journal of Family Therapy, 1991
- Family Therapy TechniquesPublished by Harvard University Press ,1981
- Seductive Behavior of Mothers of Toddlers: Occurrence, Correlates, and Family OriginsChild Development, 1980
- Breaching of family generation boundaries by schizophrenics, disturbed, and normalsContemporary Family Therapy, 1979
- Families and Family TherapyPublished by Harvard University Press ,1974
- ALCOHOLISM AS VIEWED THROUGH FAMILY SYSTEMS THEORY AND FAMILY PSYCHOTHERAPYAnnals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1974
- Simulated patterns on the California Psychological Inventory.Journal of Counseling Psychology, 1960