Trauma exposure is common among the children of parents with AUD. Physical, sexual, and witnessed violence—usually via parental IPV—were three of the most frequently reported Adverse Childhood Experiences by adult offspring of parents with alcohol problems (Anda et al., 2002; Dube et al., 2001). A survey of 2030 children and adolescents found that violence—whether witnessed through parental IPV or experienced firsthand via physical or sexual assault—was associated with mental health problems over and above family structure (i.e. single parent versus cohabitating parents) and sociodemographic factors (Turner et al., 2006).
