Females traditionally have been socialized to take greater responsibility for caregiving. When the family experiences a stressor, daughters may be particularly likely to assume greater family responsibilities. For instance, in families with a disabled child, older siblings, particularly older sisters, assumed multiple caretaking responsibilities (Stoneman, Brody, Davis, & Crapps, 1988). In addition, female ACOAs were more likely than male ACOAs to identify with the “Hero” role (Alford, 1995). Goglia and colleagues (1992) reported both male and female ACOAs exhibited excessive emotional, but not instrumental, caretaking responsibilities in their families of origin. However, female ACOAs reported significantly higher emotional caretaking than did male ACOAs or male or female nonACOAs. Related to family roles, both adolescent boys and girls must develop a healthy balance between autonomy and ties with parents; however, for females, healthy adolescent development is defined by deepening emotional ties to the family, especially to the mother (Jordan & Surrey, 1989). For female ACOAs in particular, the opportunity to be overly involved in the emotional affairs of the family may be great.