Temperamental Characteristics and Psychopathology among Children of Alcoholics

The impact of family and child rearing practices on personality development and psychiatric illnesses are well established. The present investigation is directed towards the study of psychopathology and temperamental characteristics of children of alcoholic parents, to find out correlation between these two areas and the role of alcoholism in child rearing practices. A group of 100 children of alcoholic parents was selected through random sampling between the age range of 4-12 years and compared with the children of nonalcoholic parents (N-100). Both groups were assessed on Temperamental Measurement Schedule. The student 't' test and product moment was computed for comparative and correlation purposes. The children of alcoholics were found to be manifesting marked psychopathological disturbances. These children were also found to be more arrhythmic manifesting negative mood and low persistence as compared to the children of control group. The positive correlation between psychopathological and temperamental characteristics have been indicated.