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Article
Clarifying the Effects of Parental Substance Abuse, Child Sexual Abuse, and Parental Caregiving on Adult Adjustment
Professional Psychology: Research and Practice
  • Timothy Melchert, Marquette University
Document Type
Article
Language
eng
Format of Original
6 p.
Publication Date
2-1-2000
Publisher
American Psychological Association
Disciplines
Abstract
Parental alcoholism, childhood sexual abuse, and other forms of child maltreatment are generally viewed as contributing to adult adjustment problems. The long-term effects of these various factors, however, are actually not well understood. The present study found that the largest amount of variance in 255 college students' psychological distress was explained by parental emotional abuse and neglect, with child sexual abuse, parental substance abuse, and other factors explaining additional but smaller amounts of variance in distress. This suggests that comprehensive conceptualizations of family influences on development will result in a more complete understanding of long-term adjustment outcomes than merely focusing on particular childhood risk factors.
Comments

Accepted version. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, Vol. 31, No. 1 (February 2000): 54-69. DOI. © 2000 American Psychological Association. Used with permission.

This article may not exactly replicate the final version published in the APA journal. It is not the copy of record.

Citation Information
Timothy Melchert. "Clarifying the Effects of Parental Substance Abuse, Child Sexual Abuse, and Parental Caregiving on Adult Adjustment" Professional Psychology: Research and Practice (2000) ISSN: 0735-7028
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/timothy-melchert/17/