Adverse Childhood Experiences, Alcoholic Parents, and Later Risk of Alcoholism and Depression

• DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.53.8.1001
• Publication Date: 2002-10-01T21:39:33Z
• Authors: Robert F. Anda; Charles L. Whitfield; Vincent J. Felitti; Daniel Chapman; Valerie J. Edwards; Shanta R. Dube; David F. Williamson
• Keywords: Depression; Alcohol abuse

OBJECTIVE: The study examined how growing up with alcoholic parents and having adverse childhood experiences are related to the risk of alcoholism depression in adulthood. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, 9,346 adults who visited a primary care clinic large health maintenance organization completed survey about nine experiences: experiencing emotional, physical, sexual abuse; witnessing domestic violence; parental separation or divorce; drug-abusing, mentally ill, suicidal, criminal household members. associations between alcohol abuse, experiences, adulthood were assessed by logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: had all was significantly greater among 20 percent respondents reported abuse. number graded relationship adulthood, independent prevalence higher persons no matter many they reported. association abuse accounted for families. CONCLUSIONS: Children households more likely have experiences. increases as regardless Depression adult children alcoholics appears be largely, if not solely, due likelihood home alcohol-abusing parents.