S u m m a r y

 

Itäpuisto, M. (2007)

 

Children of alcohol abusing parents as research objects of psychology

Psykologia 43:84&endash;94. Vammala ISSN 0355-1067.

A considerable number of Finnish children live in families, where alcohol problems disturb their lives. Although it is well recognized that the problems of children are manifold and even serious, there is hardly any psychological research in this field in Finland. On the other hand, much research has been published in English.

In this article the most predominant traditions of COA-research ('Children of Alcoholics') are presented: the inheritance of alcoholism; psychopathologies of children; and problems of the adult children of alcoholics. Recently, it has been questioned whether the cause of the child's problems is the parent's alcohol use or family processes. Along with the children's own experiences, family processes seem to be becoming a more important focus of research.

Self-help and therapy literature are related in several ways to the research in this field. A brief look is taken at these. Finally, criticique of this research is presented. In the discussion, some future challenges, especially relevant to the Finnish situation, are discussed on the basis of the latest research.

 

Key words: inheritance of alcoholism, children of alcoholics, adult children of alcoholics

Maritta Itäpuisto

PhD (Sociology), senior assistant, University of Jyväskylä

Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy

P.O. Box 35

40014 University of Jyväskylä

Finland

e-mail: maritta.itapuisto@yfi.jyu.fi