A Preventive Intervention with Children of Alcoholics

Summary

Children of alcoholics have been identified as a population at high risk for the development of a large number of psycho-social and behavioral problems (e.g., alcoholism and difficulty in establishing relationships). The literature on etiology, mediating and moderating variables, and resiliency with respect to these developmental processes has implications for the development of prevention strategies. A group preventive intervention was designed to facilitate the development of a variety of coping strategies and social skills, as well as to provide information and support to self-referred children of alcoholics. Eighteen sessions were held at middle schools. Comparison of pre and post data (using a waiting control group design) indicated positive effects in terms of several psychosocial variables.