Do codependent traits involve more than basic dimensions of personality and psychopathology?
OBJECTIVE
Despite widespread use of the term codependency, empirical evidence regarding its construct validity is generally lacking. This study analyzed the construct validity of codependency as measured by Potter-Efron and Potter-Efron's Codependency Assessment Questionnaire (CAQ). It attempted to determine the CAQ's factor structure and whether there are any unique relations between symptoms of codependency and parental alcoholism after controlling for basic dimensions of personality and psychopathology.


METHODS
Participants were 467 (246 male, 221 female) young adult children of alcoholics and controls who contributed complete questionnaire data at the fourth wave of a longitudinal study of factors related to alcohol use and abuse.


RESULTS
The CAQ showed reliability and basically a one dimensional structure, and CAQ scores were significantly related to family history. Although much of this relation between family history and codependency was accounted for by neuroticism and symptoms of general psychopathology, a small, but significant, association between family history and codependency remained even after statistically controlling for personality and psychopathology.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that, although there may be unique aspects of the purported codependency syndrome that are related to a family history of alcoholism, most of the relation between codependency and family history appears to be "explained" by general negative affectivity.
Gotham
H J
HJ
Department of Psychology, University of Missouri-Columbia 65211, USA.
Sher
K J
KJ
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D017004:Codependency, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010553:Personality Development; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory