This exploratory study examined the relationship between dysfunctional childhood backgrounds and career choice. The literature suggested that adults from dysfunctional backgrounds gravitated towards helping professions. A major cause of dysfunction is parental alcoholism affecting approximately 21,000,000 adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs).
If one profession attracted more than an average number of untreated ACOAs, could that profession also become dysfunctional? Evidence indicated that ACOAs have difficulty in their professional and personal lives. These difficulties arise from the pathological childhood survival skills carried into adulthood.
Utilizing the work of career development theorists, contrasting academic majors of nursing and computer science were selected.
From three Boston universities, 216 college students, initiating their careers, volunteered for this study; 148 in prerequisite nursing courses and 68 in introductory computer science programs.
The questionnaire START (Students Typically At Risk Test) was administered. START contains Ackerman's ACOA Index, measuring intensity scores of selected personality traits; Jones' CAST, determining parental alcoholism; and demographic variables.
Utilizing chi-square and discriminant function analysis techniques, this study found 31% of nursing students were ACOAs compared to 18% computer science students. Both groups ranked higher than a priori estimates of 11% ACOAs for any profession. Both generic student groups tested low. Distortion occurred when assessing students classified as transfer/possessing prior degree. Of this previously unrecognized group of students "at risk", 56% of nursing students compared to 28% computer science students were ACOAs, subject to coping and adjustment problems as well as possessing genetic tendencies towards alcoholism.
This study discussed the rate of dysfunctional students entering college, reasons for campus abuse of alcohol and other drugs, and suggested ways to locate those needing support services. It high-lighted the plight of the computer science student, reaffirming the literature's contention that many of these students are "at risk", selecting a "not towards people" major because of a poorly nurtured childhood. Other recommendations suggested educating the entire school community in the abuse of alcohol and other drugs, its prevention, identification, and/or early intervention.
