Interparental violence and child abuse among alcoholic households: Relationships to adult self-esteem and dating violence

Given that alcohol abuse is a prevalent problem in the US, scientific research on the ramifications of growing up in a household where alcohol is abused is crucial. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether differences occurred in interparental violence, emotional abuse, physical abuse, self-esteem, and dating violence between college student females who met criteria for Adult Child of an Alcoholic (ACOA) and college student females who did not met criteria for ACOA. In addition, the present study examined potential correlates of dating violence among ACOAs, and whether self-esteem mediated the association between interparental violence, emotional abuse, and physical abuse among ACOAs.;Participants were 456 female students enrolled in psychology classes in one of two public universities in southeastern Virginia. The sample of 456 included 143 participants who met criteria for ACOA as self-reported and 313 who did not met criteria for ACOA as self-reported. All were heterosexual and had been involved in at least one romantic relationship. The participants completed anonymous, online questionnaires to assess ACOA status, exposure to relationship violence, exposure to interparental violence, experiences of childhood physical abuse, experiences of childhood emotional abuse, and self-esteem.;As compared to non-ACOAs, ACOAs reported significantly greater exposure to interparental violence, emotional abuse during childhood, and dating violence. Among ACOAs, self-esteem was significantly negatively correlated with witnessing interparental violence, experiencing childhood emotional abuse, and experiencing dating violence. Self-esteem did not mediate the relationship between interparental violence, emotional abuse, and physical abuse and dating violence. Rather, results indicated that interparental violence was the only significant predictor of dating violence.;The present study suggests the need for more research on this topic. Specifically, future research should include male participants, older participants, and non-college participants. The practical implications of the findings extend to clinical settings involved in the treatment of low self-esteem and intimate partner violence. Given the unique relationships among the variables of interest among the ACOA population as compared to the non-ACOA population, the present study underscores the idea that ACOAs are a unique population worthy of independent study.