An Exploratory Study of African American Collegiate Adult Children of Alcoholics

Abstract

The authors examined the relationship between students at a Black university who were adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) and students who were not children of alcoholics (non-ACOAs) regarding levels of self-esteem, health in the family of origin, and social support during adolescence. The study participants were African American undergraduate students who responded to five surveys. The only significant relationship found was with results from the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST). Level of drinking was significantly related to the self-esteem of the ACOAs. A significant positive correlation between self-esteem and social support (mother) for the ACOAs and a negative correlation between self-esteem and health in the family were also found. The findings are consistent with earlier reports in which an association was found between mother support and health of the family.