| This study operationally defines the claims of literature on the coping skill deficits of adult children of alcoholics (ACAs) and statistically tests for them. Males (54) and females (70) who were 18-30 years old, middle class (Hollingshead & Redlich, 1958), and dominantly Caucasian (83) were given a background questionnaire, the COPE (Carver, Scheier, & Weintraub, 1989), and the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST; Selzer, 1971). ACAs did not differ from non-ACAs (N-ACAs) on the 15 COPE measures. ACAs differed from N-ACAs on detrimental drinking behavior (MAST; {dollar}p < .001){dollar}. Higher scores on the MAST were predictors of Behavioral Disengagement, Denial, Humor, and Alcohol and Drug Use. Testing for differences between males and females replicated several samples (Bjorck & Cohen, in press; Carver et al., 1989) in coping literature, suggesting a normative sample. Further research should investigate the relationship between detrimental drinking behaviors and coping skills, and aim to either substantiate, clarify, or help redefine the ACA literature base.; In addition, this dissertation reviews Kantor and Lehr's systems theory and related family literature regarding myth and intimacy, and uses this literature to examine and challenge literature on ACAs. All 13 ACA characteristics (Woititz, 1983) are reduced to common characteristics of dysfunctional families. |
