Intergenerational Effects of Incest on Parenting: Skills,Abilities, and Attitudes

Women's perceptions of generational influences of incest on their skills, abilities, and attitudes toward parenting their own children were investigated. Overarching themes that emerged were classified as unbalanced development, disconnected lives, and disowned dramas. Implications for clinical intervention, parent training, and future research are discussed.     

Personality Adjustment in College Students With a Parent Perceived as Alcoholic or Nonalcoholic

Adjustment of 547 college students was examined by the variables of alcoholic parentage and participant gender. Results from a multivariate analysis of variance, using the Diagnostic Inventory of Personality and Symptoms, indicated significant main effects for gender but not for alcoholic parentage. Significant gender differences occurred for alcohol abuse, drug abuse, paranoid psychosis, affective depression, anxiety disorders, psychological factors affecting physical condition, immature character, and neurotic character. Findings suggest that college students from alcoholic homes should not be distinguished from the general population in terms of their adjustment.     

Emotional response to abortion: a critical review of the literature

Anti-abortion groups in the US cite the existence of a post-abortion syndrome--a sense of loss, emptiness, and grief similar to that reported by trauma survivors. Although research on the longterm effects of induced abortion is marred by methodological errors, most studies have found no adverse psychological sequelae; rather, there appears to be a sense of relief and opportunity for personal growth. Nevertheless, there is a small group of women who do experience emotional distress after abortion and it is important to identify the demographic, social, and psychological factors that place women at risk of such a reaction. In terms of demographic factors, young age (adolescence), low or nulliparity, 2nd-trimester procedures, and Catholicism have been characteristics of women who suffered post-abortion depression. Of the social variables that have been examined, a lack of support from significant others (parents or partner) has been linked in some studies to emotional distress after abortion. A relatively consistent finding is that women who feel coerced to abort or are ambivalent about their decision at the time of the procedure are most likely to experience regret, depression, and anger. Women whose coping style involves avoiding responsibility are also prone to post-abortion distress. As noted, the literature does not support the contention that abortion causes longterm trauma. On the other hand, given the fact that 1.5 million abortions take place each year in the US, the existence of some post-abortion distress in even as small percentage of acceptors is enough to indicate a need for pre- and post-abortion counseling to help women determine the meaning of the experience and own their decisions.     

The Effects of Psychological Trauma on Children and Adolescents

In this review the authors examine the cognitive, affective, behavioral, and somatic-physiological effects documented in the literature as sequelae of overwhelming life events in children and adolescents. Findings from the literature are compared with the current formulations of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, third edition, revised (DSM-III-R, American Psychiatric Association, 1987) as this diagnostic category applies to children. Responses likely to be observed in children and adolescents who have been exposed to traumatic events are discussed. Suggestions for future research and counseling practice are presented