Self-esteem and Adjustment among Adolescent Children of Alcoholic and Non-alcoholic Fathers

Abstract Background: Growing up with an alcoholic father can negatively affect a child in many ways. Parental alcoholism is associated with adjustment disorders and psychopathologies in children. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess and compare the self-esteem and adjustment among adolescent children of alcoholic and non-alcoholic fathers and to correlate the self-esteem and adjustment among adolescent children of alcoholic and non-alcoholic fathers. Methods: A quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive research design was used. This study was conducted on 101 adolescents between 13 and 15 years. A purposive sampling technique was used. The Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale and the Adjustment Inventory for School Students were the tools used. Results: Results showed that among adolescent children with alcoholics and non-alcoholics, 28 (53.8%) and 45 (91.8%) had normal self-esteem, 24 (46.2%), 4 (8.2%) had low self-esteem. None had high self-esteem in both the groups. Self-esteem ( t = 3.245), emotional adjustment ( t = 4.520), social adjustment ( t = 2.793) and educational adjustment ( t = 1.673). It revealed a significant difference in self-esteem and emotional and social adjustment between the two groups. No significant difference in educational adjustment. There was no correlation between self-esteem and adjustment in either group. There was a significant association in both the groups between education of father ( χ 2 = 7.863), education ( χ 2 = 18.324), duration of drinking alcohol ( χ 2 = 13.021), income of father ( χ 2 = 13.790), drinking time per day ( χ 2 = 14.323) and age ( χ 2 = 6.092). Conclusion: The findings of this study reaffirm that adolescents of alcoholics had lower self-esteem and poorer adjustment than adolescents of non-alcoholics.