Premium
The Influence of Family Factors on the Executive Functioning of Adult Children of Alcoholics in College *
Author(s) -
Schroeder Valarie M.,
Kelley Michelle L.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
family relations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1741-3729
pISSN - 0197-6664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-3729.2008.00509.x
Subject(s) - psychology , metacognition , executive functions , clinical psychology , psychological intervention , developmental psychology , cognition , psychiatry
This study examined executive functioning in college aged adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs; n = 84) and non‐ACOAs (188). We examined whether characteristics of the family environment and family responsibility in one’s family of origin were associated with executive functioning above the contribution of ACOA status. ACOAs reported more difficulty regulating behavior related to executive functioning but comparable metacognitive abilities to non‐ACOAs. Family environment contributed to behavioral and metacognitive regulation above the contribution of group (ACOA/non‐ACOA). These findings suggest that ACOAs may be at greater risk for experiencing difficulty in higher order processes related to behavioral regulation. For both ACOA and non‐ACOA college students, one’s family of origin environment appears related to higher order processes, suggesting the need for interventions aimed at improving executive functioning for vulnerable students.