A Quantitative Comparison of Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOAs) and Non-ACOAs on Attachment

A Quantitative Comparison of Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOAs) and Non-ACOAs on Attachment by Carly Rodgers MA, Walden University, 2009 BS, University of Maine at Presque Isle, 2007 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Clinical Psychology Walden University March 2017 Abstract Children who grow up in an environment where at least 1 parent is an alcoholic can experience behavioral and emotional problems that continue into adulthood. A critical literature gap concerning the relationship between attachment and adult child of an alcoholic (ACOA) status, as well as personal alcohol abuse and levels of hope, was identified. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the influence of having alcoholic parents on personal alcohol abuse, attachment, and hope among ACOAs. Informed by attachment theory, this cross-sectional study compared attachment among ACOAs and non-ACOAs and the impact of attachment on personal alcohol abuse and hope. A convenience sample of 155 adults was recruited from a self-administered online survey. Data were analyzed by independent group t tests, Pearson correlations, and multiple regressions. Significant differences between ACOAs and non-ACOAs were found on personal alcohol abuse, attachment to mother and father figures and anxious attachment to significant other, and hope. ACOA status was significantly correlated with attachment to mother, father, and significant others and personal alcohol abuse, and negatively correlated with hope. Additionally, ACOA status and hope were significant predictors of attachment with mothers; hope was a predictor of attachment with fathers and significant others; and ACOA status was a predictor of anxious attachment with fathers and significant others. This study may aid professionals in tailoring the treatment of ACOAs by addressing underlying negative experiences related to attachment, personal alcohol abuse, and hope, which ACOAs may be reluctant to disclose, thus allowing these individuals to become healthier members of society.Children who grow up in an environment where at least 1 parent is an alcoholic can experience behavioral and emotional problems that continue into adulthood. A critical literature gap concerning the relationship between attachment and adult child of an alcoholic (ACOA) status, as well as personal alcohol abuse and levels of hope, was identified. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the influence of having alcoholic parents on personal alcohol abuse, attachment, and hope among ACOAs. Informed by attachment theory, this cross-sectional study compared attachment among ACOAs and non-ACOAs and the impact of attachment on personal alcohol abuse and hope. A convenience sample of 155 adults was recruited from a self-administered online survey. Data were analyzed by independent group t tests, Pearson correlations, and multiple regressions. Significant differences between ACOAs and non-ACOAs were found on personal alcohol abuse, attachment to mother and father figures and anxious attachment to significant other, and hope. ACOA status was significantly correlated with attachment to mother, father, and significant others and personal alcohol abuse, and negatively correlated with hope. Additionally, ACOA status and hope were significant predictors of attachment with mothers; hope was a predictor of attachment with fathers and significant others; and ACOA status was a predictor of anxious attachment with fathers and significant others. This study may aid professionals in tailoring the treatment of ACOAs by addressing underlying negative experiences related to attachment, personal alcohol abuse, and hope, which ACOAs may be reluctant to disclose, thus allowing these individuals to become healthier members of society. A Quantitative Comparison of Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOAs) and Non-ACOAs on Attachment by Carly Rodgers MS, Walden University, 2009 BS, University of Maine at Presque Isle, 2007 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Clinical Psychology Walden University March 2017 Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to the two people who came into my life unexpectedly and have become my biggest supporters. For you, LB, I’m not sure I would have been able to make it this far without your continued love, patience, and understanding. For you, E, from the very beginning, you were able to see something in me that I have struggled to see myself. Your continuous encouragement, unwavering belief in me, and refusal to let me give up have allowed me to reach this milestone. The compassion and the strength that you exude have inspired me to become the person I am today. Thank you. Acknowledgments I wish to thank my dissertation chair, Dr. William Disch, and my dissertation committee member, Dr. Robin Oatis-Ballew. It has certainly been a long journey, one that I would have never been able to finish had it not been for you both. I truly appreciate your commitment and patience, as well as all the countless hours you put into my dissertation. I would also like to thank my URR, Dr. Elisha Galaif, for assisting in the dissertation process. I wish to thank other professors and professionals who have inspired me along the way, advancing my knowledge and serving as a model for the scholar-practitioner I aspire to become: Dr. Ronald Breazeale, Dr. William Sandberg, Dr. Scott Friedman, Dr. Steven Little, Troi Boulanger, and Jennifer Bourassa. Finally, I want to thank all of my family and friends who have been encouraging and supportive throughout this long journey.