The Effect of Alcoholism on Parenting Children: A Review of Literature

Abstract

In psychology parental alcoholism has been accorded significant attention to the construct of alcoholism. The literature has been faulted for its limitation in the provision of consistent guideline on the effect of parental alcoholism and coping strategies. The effects of alcoholism have been discussed in literature addressing the impact on the alcoholic but little has been done on the effects of alcoholism on parenting children. This paper reviewed extant theoretical and empirical literature and raises issues that presents a case for a new theoretical model suitable for expansion of the current understanding of parental alcoholism and its effects on children. The paper proposes a theoretical conceptual model for linking parental alcoholism, permissive styles of parenting and their psychological effects on children. From the literature reviewed the study identified that parental alcoholism has a negative effect on the on the psychological wellbeing of children. These findings have implication for a better understanding of the constructs and how they are related as contained in the proposed theoretical framework. The paper proposes that future studies be based on multidisciplinary counselling mitigation strategies used in counselling children of alcoholics. The proposed theoretical framework be applied in guiding future studies and be practically tested in empirical research.