Paternal alcoholism increases the likelihood of depression in adult children attending college. Alcoholism is linked to a poorer quality of relationships between parent and child, more parent-child role reversal, and fewer feelings of affection felt by the child. I chose this essay because my mom is currently grappling with alcoholism and the title of the essay ” Maternal and paternal alcoholism and depressive mood in college students: Parental relationships as mediators of ACOA-depressive mood link” seemed topical and intriguing given my personal perspective. I personally do not suffer from depression but my mother’s alcoholism is a relatively recent issue so I feel as if the essay applies more to my younger sister than me.
I naturally have concerns for the future of my little sister and while I worry for any child living trough the upsets of having an alcohol abusing parent and an unfavorable change to that parents living situation, these stories tend to hit closer to home when they are in your own. As for my feelings on the question of “Does having an alcoholic parent or alcoholic parents potentially encourage depression in adult children?” Anecdotally absolutely without a doubt. I alone can name eleven separate people off the top of my head who I personally know that have/had alcoholic parents who either have struggled or currently are struggling with varying severities of depression.
I have no doubt of this essay’s credibility, It is peer-reviewed, has five different authors (Michelle L.Kelley, Matthew. R Pearson, Scott Trinh, Keith Klostermann, and Kristina Krakowski), a laundry list of references (61) and is the most recent material I was able to find on this particular topic (2011). So unless alcoholism has fundamentally changed in the last eight years this source is still full of relevant information.
This essay connects to our in class texts because it takes the very individualistic almost abstract concept of alcoholism and its effects on adult children in college then approaches it from a very analytical mindset in order to better understand it. This is the inverse of what people like Jonah Lehrer seek to do by merging the arts with science. Rather than gain a deeper understanding of the abstract by breaking it down analytically as is done in this essay Lehrer encourages the abstract breaking down of scientific subjects like physics and neurology in order to gain deeper insight into them.
Yo-Yo ma’s essay explores the role of the arts in education. This essay has nothing particularly artistic or creative about it, it contains hard facts and data on a subject people desperately need to be educated on. Understanding a potential trigger for mental illness and the effects of alcoholism are invaluable in treating both. The lesson in this essay may not sink in for many readers, it’s often hard to relate to numbers but to approach these same facts in a more creative and human way would go a long way to educating the people on the effects of alcoholism. To have personal stories or anecdotes interwoven with these stats would bolster both aspects and make everything more real for someone who does not grasp what either alone might really mean.
Ps,
To anyone concerned about the safety of my sister I can assure you any and all precautions for her safety are being taken and the department of social services is already involved. For any questions comment trough this page.
Drew, I’m amazed by the strength, work ethic, and positivity I’ve seen you exhibit throughout this semester. I have no doubt that you might have hard moments as you have so much on your plate–but from what I see, you are going places–and you seem to lift others up as you do so. I wish healing for your mother. I wish healing for your entire family. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do.
I think this will make for a powerful paper.