The Influences of Parental Alcoholism on Socioemotional Outcomes of Emerging Adults: A Retrospective Approach to Healthy Development

Research has explored the negative environmental influences on the development of children of alcoholics (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2002); however, there is limited literature that explores the specific mechanisms that aid these children to successful development in emerging adulthood (Jaeger, Hahn, & Weinraub, 2000). There are known genetic, psychological, and social risks for children who have been raised by a problem-drinking parent (McKenry & Price, 2005). This study examined the parent-adolescent relationship; socioemotional behaviors (e.g. internalizing and externalizing behaviors); and social competencies of emerging adults who grew up in a family of alcoholism. Protective factors and barriers associated with parental alcoholism and healthy socioemotional obtainment as a young adult were also evaluated. Methodologically, a retrospective qualitative inquiry research approach was utilized. This study provided a unique perspective through a healthy adaptive approach by evaluating emerging adults who were adult children of alcoholics and were successfully functioning (e.g. academically successful and psychologically healthy). The findings provide evidence that possessing protective factors such as innate drive to succeed and being involved in extracurricular activities can help a child of alcoholism overcome some of the most prominent barriers of growing up in an alcoholic home (e.g. an unpredictable environment and poor family communication). These findings indicated the importance of children of alcoholics needing to establish attachments beyond their parent-adolescent relationship. It is also important to note that participants reported that both protective factors and barriers changed overtime. Several of the participants shared that their attachment relationship with their drinking parent also changed over time. A final salient finding was that their current romantic partner served as a source for learning more effective communication patterns and building trusting relationships with others. This study revealed the participants\u27 distinct interpretations of being raised by one or more parents who were an alcoholic. By providing a greater understanding of what can be done to help this vulnerable population in the U.S., human service providers can assist children of alcoholics in overcoming some of the internal and external barriers outlined in this study in order to become thriving healthy emerging adults

A Longitudinal Evaluation of Risk and Resiliency on Alcohol Use from Adolescence through Adulthood

Adolescents are particularly more vulnerable than adults when consuming the same amount of alcohol; thus creating greater health problems for adolescents who continue to drink on a regular basis as they transition into adulthood. Adolescent alcohol use can be further exacerbated when coupled with familial risk factors such as harsh parenting and parent alcohol use. However, individual personal characteristics such as self-esteem can diminish possible negative consequences associated with early-onset drinking. Utilizing the four-chapter, two-paper format, this dissertation centered on two research areas regarding these concepts: Paper (1) The contributing factors of alcohol use over time guided by Family Systems Theory; and Paper (2) The impact of positive personal characteristics as a form of resiliency on the continuity of alcohol use over time employed by a Resiliency framework. Data was drawn from the Family Transitions Project (FTP). This dissertation provided evidence as to the magnitude of influence of predictors of risk and resilience from adolescence to adulthood. In paper 1 (N = 390), adolescent and father alcohol use as well as externalizing behaviors were driving determinants of persistent alcohol use. Harsh parent-adolescent interactions demonstrated a significant, indirect effect between emerging adult and adult alcohol use. In paper 2 (N = 492), positive personal characteristics were not tenacious in minimizing the exhibition of externalizing behaviors or persistent alcohol use into adulthood. This dissertation advances the literature by evaluating adolescent alcohol use in regards to the stability of individual alcohol use, externalizing behaviors, and positive personal characteristics over a 20-year time frame. Implications are additionally included which outline potential avenues of preventing or diminishing the impact of risk-patterned alcohol use over time

The Influence of Parental Alcoholism on Parent–Adolescent Relationships From Adolescence Into Emerging Adulthood: A Qualitative Inquiry

Exposure to parental alcoholism can inhibit a child’s ability to become a successfully functioning young adult. Based on qualitative interviews, this study provides a deeper understanding of how those parent–adolescent relationships are associated with risky internalizing and externalizing behaviors. This qualitative study explores the lives of 13 young adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) and provides a unique perspective through an adaptive developmental approach by evaluating emerging adults who were ACOAs and successfully functioning. Compelling findings emerged with respect to how young adults define alcoholism and being a child of alcoholism and how the parent–adolescent relationship adapts in the unstable environment associated with family alcoholism. Salient findings revealed that when emotional and physical detachment from a parent’s alcoholic behaviors in addition to an acceptance that those behaviors are not the adolescent’s responsibility, individuals gained better control of their environment aiding them in becoming healthy, functioning young adults

Alkali metal derivatives of an ortho-phenylene diamine

Treatment of the ortho-phenylene diamine C6H4-1,2-{N(H)Tripp}2 (1, PDAH2, Tripp = 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl) with two equivalents of MR (M = Li, R = Bun; M = Na or K, R = CH2C6H5) afforded the dimetallated alkali metal ortho-phenylene diamide dianion complexes [(PDALi2)(THF)3] (2), [{(PDANa2)(THF)2}2] (3), and [{(PDAK2)(THF)3}2] (4). In contrast, treatment of 2 with two equivalents of rubidium or cesium 2-ethylhexoxide, or treatment of 1 with two equivalents of MR (M = Rb or Cs, R = CH2C6H5) did not afford the anticipated dialkali metal ortho-phenylene diamide dianion derivatives and instead formally afforded the monometallic ortho-diiminosemiquinonate radical anion species [PDAM] (M = Rb, 5; M = Cs, 6). The structure of 2 is monomeric with one lithium coordinated to the two nitrogen centres and the other lithium η4-coordinated to the diazabutadiene portion of the PDA scaffold. Similar structural cores are observed for 3 and 4, except that the larger sodium and potassium ions give dimeric structures linked by multi-hapto interactions from the PDA backbone phenyl ring to an alkali metal centre. Complex 5 was not characterised in the solid state, but the structure of 6 reveals coordination of cesium ions to both PDA amide centres and multi-hapto interactions to a PDA backbone phenyl ring in the next unit to generate a one-dimensional polymer. Complexes 2–6 have been variously characterised by X-ray crystallography, multi-nuclear NMR, FTIR, and EPR spectroscopies, and CHN microanalyses

The Influences of Parental Alcoholism on Socioemotional Outcomes of Emerging Adults: A Retrospective Approach to Healthy Development

Research has explored the negative environmental influences on the development of children of alcoholics (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2002); however, there is limited literature that explores the specific mechanisms that aid these children to successful development in emerging adulthood (Jaeger, Hahn, & Weinraub, 2000). There are known genetic, psychological, and social risks for children who have been raised by a problem-drinking parent (McKenry & Price, 2005). This study examined the parent-adolescent relationship; socioemotional behaviors (e.g. internalizing and externalizing behaviors); and social competencies of emerging adults who grew up in a family of alcoholism. Protective factors and barriers associated with parental alcoholism and healthy socioemotional obtainment as a young adult were also evaluated. Methodologically, a retrospective qualitative inquiry research approach was utilized. This study provided a unique perspective through a healthy adaptive approach by evaluating emerging adults who were adult children of alcoholics and were successfully functioning (e.g. academically successful and psychologically healthy). The findings provide evidence that possessing protective factors such as innate drive to succeed and being involved in extracurricular activities can help a child of alcoholism overcome some of the most prominent barriers of growing up in an alcoholic home (e.g. an unpredictable environment and poor family communication). These findings indicated the importance of children of alcoholics needing to establish attachments beyond their parent-adolescent relationship. It is also important to note that participants reported that both protective factors and barriers changed overtime. Several of the participants shared that their attachment relationship with their drinking parent also changed over time. A final salient finding was that their current romantic partner served as a source for learning more effective communication patterns and building trusting relationships with others. This study revealed the participants' distinct interpretations of being raised by one or more parents who were an alcoholic. By providing a greater understanding of what can be done to help this vulnerable population in the U.S., human service providers can assist children of alcoholics in overcoming some of the internal and external barriers outlined in this study in order to become thriving healthy emerging adults.</p

A Longitudinal Evaluation of Risk and Resiliency on Alcohol Use from Adolescence through Adulthood

Adolescents are particularly more vulnerable than adults when consuming the same amount of alcohol; thus creating greater health problems for adolescents who continue to drink on a regular basis as they transition into adulthood. Adolescent alcohol use can be further exacerbated when coupled with familial risk factors such as harsh parenting and parent alcohol use. However, individual personal characteristics such as self-esteem can diminish possible negative consequences associated with early-onset drinking. Utilizing the four-chapter, two-paper format, this dissertation centered on two research areas regarding these concepts: Paper (1) The contributing factors of alcohol use over time guided by Family Systems Theory; and Paper (2) The impact of positive personal characteristics as a form of resiliency on the continuity of alcohol use over time employed by a Resiliency framework. Data was drawn from the Family Transitions Project (FTP). This dissertation provided evidence as to the magnitude of influence of predictors of risk and resilience from adolescence to adulthood. In paper 1 (N = 390), adolescent and father alcohol use as well as externalizing behaviors were driving determinants of persistent alcohol use. Harsh parent-adolescent interactions demonstrated a significant, indirect effect between emerging adult and adult alcohol use. In paper 2 (N = 492), positive personal characteristics were not tenacious in minimizing the exhibition of externalizing behaviors or persistent alcohol use into adulthood. This dissertation advances the literature by evaluating adolescent alcohol use in regards to the stability of individual alcohol use, externalizing behaviors, and positive personal characteristics over a 20-year time frame. Implications are additionally included which outline potential avenues of preventing or diminishing the impact of risk-patterned alcohol use over time.</p

The Influence of Parental Alcoholism on Parent–Adolescent Relationships From Adolescence Into Emerging Adulthood: A Qualitative Inquiry

Exposure to parental alcoholism can inhibit a child’s ability to become a successfully functioning young adult. Based on qualitative interviews, this study provides a deeper understanding of how those parent–adolescent relationships are associated with risky internalizing and externalizing behaviors. This qualitative study explores the lives of 13 young adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) and provides a unique perspective through an adaptive developmental approach by evaluating emerging adults who were ACOAs and successfully functioning. Compelling findings emerged with respect to how young adults define alcoholism and being a child of alcoholism and how the parent–adolescent relationship adapts in the unstable environment associated with family alcoholism. Salient findings revealed that when emotional and physical detachment from a parent’s alcoholic behaviors in addition to an acceptance that those behaviors are not the adolescent’s responsibility, individuals gained better control of their environment aiding them in becoming healthy, functioning young adults.This article is published as Bickelhaupt, S.E., Lohman, B.J., Neppl, T.K., The Influence of Parental Alcoholism on Parent–Adolescent Relationships From Adolescence Into Emerging Adulthood: A Qualitative Inquiry. Emerging Adulthood, 2019. Doi: 10.1177/2167696818824186. Posted with permission. </p

Measuring the Effectiveness of Team-Based Learning Outcomes in a Human Factors Course

This paper will describe a synopsis of the development and application of a survey instrument to assess team skills and professional development outcomes of Team-Based Learning (TBL) in a human factors course. TBL is an advancing teaching pedagogy that shifts instruction from a traditional lecture-based teaching paradigm to a structured learning sequence that includes individual student preparation outside of class followed by active, in-class problem solving exercises completed by student learning teams. As an evolving teaching method, TBL appears to be producing new empirical learning outcomes in areas that have only preliminarily been explored. Traditionally, the effectiveness of TBL has been assessed through grades and numeric measures of performance; however, TBL was designed to both enhance learning as well as team collaboration and critical thinking skills. Thus there a need for a validated measurement instrument emerged to assess the development of team skills in TBL classes. The newly developed survey instrument is designed to assess three overarching factors within the TBL framework: 1) attitudes and beliefs about learning; 2) motivation to learn; and 3) professional development. A pilot survey was created and administered in the summer of 2013 to 25 undergraduate students at a large Mid-Western university and was tested for internal consistency. To further improve the quality of the survey, two focus groups were also conducted. In the fall of 2013 the revised survey was administered to 182 undergraduate students and in the spring of 2014 to 197 undergraduate students. Based on encouraging results, the survey was used to assess the learning outcome gains in a graduate level human factors course. Preliminary results for this sample showed modest gains in critical thinking and external motivation. The survey has the potential to provide instructors a mechanism to measure student learning gains in TBL educational settings

Measuring the Effectiveness of Team-Based Learning Outcomes in a Human Factors Course

This paper will describe a synopsis of the development and application of a survey instrument to assess team skills and professional development outcomes of Team-Based Learning (TBL) in a human factors course. TBL is an advancing teaching pedagogy that shifts instruction from a traditional lecture-based teaching paradigm to a structured learning sequence that includes individual student preparation outside of class followed by active, in-class problem solving exercises completed by student learning teams. As an evolving teaching method, TBL appears to be producing new empirical learning outcomes in areas that have only preliminarily been explored. Traditionally, the effectiveness of TBL has been assessed through grades and numeric measures of performance; however, TBL was designed to both enhance learning as well as team collaboration and critical thinking skills. Thus there a need for a validated measurement instrument emerged to assess the development of team skills in TBL classes. The newly developed survey instrument is designed to assess three overarching factors within the TBL framework: 1) attitudes and beliefs about learning; 2) motivation to learn; and 3) professional development. A pilot survey was created and administered in the summer of 2013 to 25 undergraduate students at a large Mid-Western university and was tested for internal consistency. To further improve the quality of the survey, two focus groups were also conducted. In the fall of 2013 the revised survey was administered to 182 undergraduate students and in the spring of 2014 to 197 undergraduate students. Based on encouraging results, the survey was used to assess the learning outcome gains in a graduate level human factors course. Preliminary results for this sample showed modest gains in critical thinking and external motivation. The survey has the potential to provide instructors a mechanism to measure student learning gains in TBL educational settings.Copyright Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 2015. Posted with permission.</p