Children’s experiences of the role of the other parent when one parent has addiction problems

Abstract

This paper concerns children’s and young people’s accounts about the situation when one parent is misusing substances but the other parent is not. Earlier research on the other parent is scarce and fragmented. The aim of the paper is to discuss the role of the other parent from a child perspective. The results are based on qualitative analysis of interviews with 23 children who had one parent who misused substances while the other parent, according to public knowledge, did not. The main finding is that the other parent is a source of support, help and protection to some children, but difficulties may reduce the other parent’s ability to protect the children. Moreover, the challenges differ in the situations before and after the parents’ separation. The conclusion underlines the importance of taking a family perspective, working with the whole family and seeking solutions that take into account all persons of importance to the children’s welfare. It cannot be taken for granted that the other parent is able to protect the children. A careful assessment of the children’s living conditions is warranted and that assessment should include listening to the children.

Keywords:

• Substance misuse
• harm to other
• children as carers
• the other parent
• family problems

Declaration of interest

The authors report that they have no conflicts of interest’. This study was supported by Swedish National Institute of Public Health (06353-2014-6.2).

Notes

1. For further discussion of this conceptualization, see Närvänen and Näsman (2004).

2. Project participants are, in addition to the authors, Helen Olsson, Helene Andersson and Lena Chirico.