The relationship of self-perception and stress in adult children of alcoholics and their peers.

Woititz identified thirteen generalizations which she asserts characterize adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) [1]. Her work, however, was based upon clinical populations and may not be generalizable to a non-clinical population. Using 442 undergraduate students, 2 x 3 multivariate analysis of variance (parental alcoholism by level of childhood stress) on students' perceptions of the applicability of Woititz's variables to them was conducted. No significant effects were found even though ACOAs experienced more childhood stress than their peers. Results do not support the generalization of Woitiz's model to a non-clinical sample.