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Do codependent traits involve more than basic dimensions of personality and psychopathology?
1Department of Psychology, University of Missouri-Columbia 65211, USA.
Journal of Studies on Alcohol
|January 1, 1996
Summary
This study examined the Codependency Assessment Questionnaire (CAQ) and found it to be reliable. While codependency shows some unique links to parental alcoholism, negative affectivity largely explains this relationship.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Codependency is a widely used term, but its empirical construct validity is often debated.
- Previous research has lacked robust evidence for the validity of codependency measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the construct validity of the Codependency Assessment Questionnaire (CAQ).
- To determine the CAQ's factor structure.
- To investigate unique relationships between codependency symptoms and parental alcoholism, controlling for personality and psychopathology.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 467 young adults (children of alcoholics and controls) from a longitudinal study.
- Administered the Codependency Assessment Questionnaire (CAQ) and other measures of personality and psychopathology.
Main Results:
- The CAQ demonstrated reliability and a predominantly one-dimensional structure.
- CAQ scores were significantly associated with family history of alcoholism.
- Neuroticism and general psychopathology explained a substantial portion of this association, but a small unique link remained.
Conclusions:
- The study suggests that while unique aspects of codependency may relate to a family history of alcoholism, general negative affectivity largely accounts for this connection.
- The findings support the CAQ's reliability but highlight the significant role of broader personality and psychopathology factors.