Children of alcoholic parents are at risk for emotional difficulties and academic problems, among other challenges. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimates that there are nearly 11 million children of alcoholics under the age of 18 in the United States and that nearly 3 million of these children will develop serious problems.
Inconsistent Parenting Effects
Children with alcoholic parents may live in chaotic homes with inconsistencies regarding rules, nurturing and positive interactions. A parent who insists on homework being completed before dinner one night and shrugs off the importance of homework the next night may confuse a child. Because of poor parenting, children of alcoholics are at risk of being placed in foster care, according to ChildWelfare.gov. Children of alcoholic parents placed in foster care tend to remain there longer than those with non-alcoholic parents.
Developmental Effects
Because children thrive on regular smiles, touch and interaction with parents, children of alcoholics may experience developmental delays. These delays or difficulties may occur with speech, social abilities or attachment to friends and family. This impact can be either short- or long-term.
Emotional Effects
Children with alcoholic parents suffer a higher incidence of anxiety, depression and low self-esteem than children of non-alcoholic parents, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Other emotional effects include issues relating to grief, loss, trauma, anger and mistrust.
Academic Effects
School-related issues are common among children with alcoholic parents. Children may receive poor grades, suffer behavioral problems, repeat grades or fail to graduate from high school. While poor cognitive ability accounts for some of the academic challenges, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism suggests that it is often due to stress and motivational difficulties caused by the home environment.
Abusive Effects
Emotional and physical abuse is more common among children whose parents are alcoholics. In addition, ChildWelfare.gov explains that when one or both parents are substance abusers, the roles between parent and child are often blurry and ill-defined, potentially causing children to become victims of sexual abuse.
References
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: Children of Alcoholics: Are They Different?
- Child Welfare Information Gateway: Parental Substance Use
- AllPsych Online: Alcoholism and Its Effect on the Family
- Child Welfare Information Gateway: Protecting Children in Substance-Abusing Families
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Alcoholism Tends to Run in Families
