Personality Traits in Children of Alcoholic Parents

Abstract

Children of alcoholics (COAs) are children who have grown up in families in which either one or both parents are alcoholic. The interplay of several factors such as environmental, cognitive, and genetic vulnerability has been linked to the psychopathology among COAs. The age of elementary school years, i.e., from 6 or 7–15 years of age, is known as the latency developmental period of children, but this phase of development does not apply to COAs, as they are constantly under stress which hinders their self-development. COAs suffer from direct physical, verbal, emotional, and sexual abuse from their alcoholic parent. There is a high need to address the stress to children of persons with substance abuse. Early detection of psychiatric morbidities in such children and appropriate intervention can produce beneficial changes in such children.