Evangelical Christian Adult Children of Alcoholics: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Using the Sixteen Personality Factor Test evangelical Christian adult children of alcoholics and nonalcoholics from 17 Protestant churches in Ohio, California, and Illinois were compared on five personality characteristics. Mean scores were analyzed by t-tests, and adult children of alcoholics (ACAs) measured significantly more depressed, distrusting, and self-blaming than adult children of nonalcoholics (NACAs). Self-reported religious problems were investigated also. These religious problems were in the areas of experiencing God's love and forgiveness, trusting God's will, believing biblical promises, and forgiving others. Chi-square tests were used to determine which of the four problem areas differed significantly. The first three differed at p<.001 and the last at p<.01, with ACAs reporting more problems than NACAs. These findings are discussed and suggestions for further research are presented.