Published online Jun 6, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i16.5306
Peer-review started: March 20, 2021
First decision: July 15, 2021
Revised: August 23, 2021
Accepted: April 30, 2022
Article in press: April 30, 2022
Published online: June 6, 2022
The harmful use of alcohol afflicts not only the individual but also the whole family. The literature suggests that adults’ drinking is associated with physical and psychological harms to children. Children of alcoholics are at higher risk for internalizing behavioral problems.
There are few studies focused on school-based intervention for internalizing behavioral problems of children of alcoholic parents in India. There is a need for population-specific psychosocial intervention to prevent complications in childhood.
To develop and evaluate the efficacy of psychosocial intervention for internalizing behavior problems among children of alcoholic parents.
A randomized controlled trial with a 2 × 4 factorial design was adopted with longitudinal measurement of outcomes for 6 mo. The psychosocial intervention was administered to the experimental group biweekly in eight sessions over 4 wk after the pre-interventional assessment. The data were collected pre-intervention and at 1, 3 and 6 mo after intervention. Screening tests (modified) were used to identify children of alcoholic parents and Paediatric Symptom Checklist: Youth Report for behavioral problems among children of alcoholics. The outcome variables were assessed using Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.
The present study demonstrated that the psychosocial intervention was effective in reducing anxiety and depression among children of alcoholic parents. It also shows that self-esteem improved significantly after intervention.
The findings of this provided initial evidence for the effect of psychosocial intervention for children of alcoholics in India.
The intervention was focused only on children and there is a chance of relapse of these problems due to the family atmosphere, hence future research should include alcoholic parents.