Attributional style in children of substance abusers.
This study examined attributional style in children of substance abusers. We hypothesized that children of substance abusers are more likely to develop a depressogenic attributional style. Forty children between the ages of 8 and 14 participated in the study. Twenty children were from families with a history of substance abuse and 20 were from families without such a history. Each child completed self-report measures of depression and attributional style. After controlling for depression and other factors, the results revealed that children of substance abusers had a more depressogenic attributional style than did children without such a family history. Implications of the results for children of substance abusers and for hopelessness theory are discussed.
Perez-Bouchard
L
L
Department of Psychology, American University, Washington, D.C. 20016.
Johnson
J L
JL
Ahrens
A H
AH
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D010553:Personality Development; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012649:Self Concept; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation