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This topic deals with the Moolakkatt’s research about the influence of self-esteem and social relations of 50 adolescents between the age group of 14 to 18 years, having a parent with problem of alcohol dependence. Indeed, alcohol dependence is very present in our society, but, even today, it is a disease that remains some taboo. Stereotypes around gender in alcoholism disease are real. They suggest that a man addicted to alcohol will tend to be seen as a “roisterer” and goes to bars, while an alcoholic woman will go into hiding and drinking in privacy. More importantly though, many people today are suffering from this disease without even realizing it.
An alcoholic dependence is defined as someone who has alcohol problems, but continues to drink anyway. The consequences of this disease are multiple and goes beyond mental suffering because they are also directly affecting the physical, cause medical problems, violence and can also cause death in some cases.
The Moolakkatt’s study was developed in the following context: in India, the father is the head of the family. If the family does not work properly under the guidance of the father, there may be the son to take care of it. When the father is an alcoholic and does not care about his own role as head of the house, the responsibility falls on the son, whatever his age.
Therefore, the study took place in the Indian town of Mullenkolly Panchayat. The author investigates about father’s alcoholism on adolescent males between the ages of 14 and 18. He assesses on self-esteem and the adaptation of these adolescents to different situations such as school, teachers, pairs, family, etc. The study consisted of two stages: the first step consisted of a group discussion to identify families with an alcoholic father. The second step was to take a screening test for alcoholism in children, the “Children of Alcoholics Screening Test”.
The main results of the study are that a large majority of respondents (72%) said that they had higher self-esteem, which goes against the researchers’ hypothesis, but it explained by the presence of a family support. Moreover, 70% of the alcoholic fathers’ children in the study have better adaptation in their house and living environment than with their peers or at school. This is explained, according to the author, by the fact that the rest of the family shares the same environment.
To conclude, the author quotes some recommendations for adolescents and their families like: private counselling sessions to children with difficulty, or helping school teachers in identifying and handling students who need special care, or again, clinical consultation for alcohol dependents, etc… In other words, the role of the social worker in solving this parental alcohol problem has a lot to do.
Keywords: Moolakkatt’s research; adolescents; self-esteem; alcohol dependence.
Bibliography: Moolakkatt C. J., George S. (2012). Adolescent children of alcoholics: social work response. Global Academic Society Journal: Social Science Insight, Vol. 5, No. 14, pp. 12-18. ISSN 2029-0365