Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences

Effect of Parental Alcohol Abuse on Adjustment of young adults

Amity University Uttar Pradesh

M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

By
Ila Dixit A0403421033
Under the guidance of
DR. Rajat Kanti Mitra
AMITY INSTITUTE OF PSYCHOLOGY AND ALLIED SCIENCES
AMITY UNIVERSITY UTTAR PRADESH
NOIDA(U.P.)
 Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences

Topic: Effect of Parental Alcohol Abuse on Adjustment

Parental alcohol abuse- Usage of alcoholic substance of any kind by someone who has children.
Children with parents who use substances are at an increased risk for child maltreatment.

Adjustment: The behavioral process by which humans and other animals maintain an equilibrium among their
various needs or between their needs and the obstacles of their environments. Humans and animals regularly adjust
to their environment. For example, when their physiological state stimulates them to seek food, they eat (if possible)
to reduce their hunger and adapt to the hunger stimulus. Four parts of adjustment: (1) a need or motive in the form of
a strong persistent stimulus, (2) the thwarting or non-fulfillment of this need, (3) varied activity, or exploratory
behaviour accompanied by problem solving, and (4) some response that removes or at least reduces the initiating
stimulus and completes the adjustment

Independent variables: Parental Alcohol Abuse

Dependent variables: Adjustment

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Review of Literature
• Ronald G.ThompsonJr.(2008) concluded in their study that Experiencing both childhood or adolescent parental
divorce/separation and parental alcohol problems had a significantly stronger impact on the risk for DSM-IV alcohol
dependence than the risk incurred by either parental risk factor alone.

• Shanta RDube(2001)in a study established a causal association with certainty that exposure to parental alcohol abuse
is highly associated with experiencing adverse childhood experiences.

• Peggy S. Keller (2005) concluded that parental problem drinking behaviors are associated with reduced family
functioning that relates to child outcomes.

• Maria J. Casas-Gil (2016) conducted a study that identified five variables on which performance by children of
alcoholic parents was poorer than children of non-alcoholic parents: intelligence, repeating a grade, low academic
performance, skipping school days, and dropping out of school

• PEGGY S.KelleKr (2008) revealed that the indirect effects of paternal drinking on children’s adjustment are
significant. 3
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Research rationale
An extensive amount of research has been conducted on the psychological functioning of children of alcohol abusers, although
relatively few studies have addressed these children's school adjustment. Adolescence brings with it many biological, psychological,
and social changes. Parents continue to play an important role in their children’s development during this time. Parental problem
drinking can adversely affect adolescent development and adjustment by interfering with parenting skills and marital relations.
I believe this is topic that should be explored more in the context of Indian society in which usage of alcohol is quite high. Alcohol
usage also effects not only the users life but also impacts the life of their family members, specifically their children. Growing up in
the house, experiencing the effects of alcohol use may have an effect on the adjustment of the child. Which is why I’ve chosen this
topic.

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Method
Aim –
To understand the relationship between parental alcohol abuse and child's adjustment

Objective –
To measure the effects of parental alcohol abuse on child’s adjustment
To measure the child’s adjustment

Hypothesis –
There will be negative correlation between parental alcohol use and poor adjustment of the child

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Sample
• Nature- Children of alcoholics between 18-21 years of age, 50 male and 50 female
• Size - 100
• Sampling Technique - Random sampling

Inclusion criteria-
Individuals with parents who consume alcohol on a daily basis.

Exclusive criteria –
Individuals with parents who do not consume alcohol
Individuals with parents who partake in alcohol consumption as a recreational activity

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Tools
The following psychometric tools were used to gather data from the participants:
• General questionnaire for alcoholism
• Bell's Adjustment inventory- by Hugh M Bell
In 1934, Bell published the first version of a test of student adjustment known as the Adjustment Inventory (later the
Bell Adjustment Inventory). It included a series of questions designed to measure home adjustment, health
adjustment, social adjustment, and emotional adjustment.
The reliability of this scale is . 75 to . 89 and the validity of the scale is . 58

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RESEARCH DESIGN

The following research design will be used in this study:

Correlational research: Correlational research is a non-experimental research technique. It helps researchers establish
a relationship between two closely connected variables.

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Tools used for data analysis

In order to test the hypotheses and to facilitate the interpretation of the results, data obtained was analyzed by
applying the following statistical technique using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).
• Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient

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Procedure
This project was accomplished in two stages:
Stage 1: Literature Review
The literature review for this study was collected from books and journals as well as internet
websites and online resources.
Stage 2: Field Study
The primary data for the present research will collected from a filed study through using the tools that will be
conducted in person
Stage 3: Analysis of data
The data collected will be analysed at this stage
Stade 4: Interpretation of the result

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