Temperament, Adjustment, and Alcoholism in Adult Female Incest Victims

• Published in: Violence and victims Vol. 3; no. 3; pp. 205 - 216
• Main Authors: Carson, David K., Council, James R., Volk, Margaret A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer Publishing Company 01.01.1988; Springer
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Addictive behaviors; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Age differences; Alcoholism - psychology; Behavioral Sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Counseling; Female; History; Humans; Incest; Incest - psychology; Investigations; Marriage and Family Counselling; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Personality Development; Policy, Social Justice, and Human Rights; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Self Concept; Self esteem; Sexual behavior; Social and Personality Psychology; Social Work; Temperament; Human; Alcoholism; Incest; Personality; Victimology; Personal experience; Life events; Sexual violence; Early experience; Family environment; Adult; Self esteem; Woman
• DOI: 10.1891/0886-6708.3.3.205
• ISSN: 0886-6708

Female adult incest victims differing in history of alcoholism were compared to an alcoholism-only and a no incest/no alcoholism group on dimensions of temperament, psychological adjustment, and self-esteem. Incest victims with histories of alcoholism were more alienated and withdrawn, less rhythmical in their daily behavior, and evidenced lower self-esteem, more negative mood, greater social nonconformity, and more emotional discomfort than women in the other three groups. Women in the no incest/no alcohol group showed the best self-esteem and psychological adjustment and were generally more positive in the expression of various temperamental characteristics. The findings also suggested an association between incestuous victimization and an alcoholic family of origin.