| |
| Project title |
The Experiences
of Older Children of Drug and Alcohol Using Parents:
Risk and Resilience |
| Funding details |
Funded by the Joseph
Rowntree Foundation |
| Research
team |
Sarah Wilson, Angus
Bancroft, Sarah Cunningham Burley and Kathryn Backett Milburn
of CRFR and Hugh Masters of Napier University |
| Dates |
|
| Type of project |
Completed research
project |
| Keywords |
Children and young people, drugs,
alcohol & families / relationships, parents and parenting |
| Project
description |
Children whose parents have
substance misuse problems are at greater risk of various adverse
outcomes, both during their childhood and in later life. Some
of the risks they face have been examined by quantitative studies
measuring psychological factors. However, qualitative research
is needed to explore the social processes, attitudes and experiences
underlying these correlations. It is also the case that many
young people growing up with parents with substance misuse problems
will not develop problems themselves. Research is needed to
examine young people’s survival, coping or resilience
in this context.
CRFR was awarded a 22 month grant to study older children’s
accounts of their childhoods, pathways to independence and thoughts
about the future. Our interview topic guide focused not only
on the difficulties encountered by young people, but also on
the coping strategies they developed and other resources available
to them, including support from extended family members, friends,
services and involvement in extra-curricular activities. Our
analysis explored the impact of different substances, as well
as gender and socio-economic factors, and the implications for
services.
Involved were 38 young people (aged 15-27, 20 women and 18 men)
from different social backgrounds across mainland Scotland.
Each had at least one parent with a drug or alcohol problem.
22 respondents reported parental alcohol problems, 11 reported
drug problems (primarily opiates) and 5, drug and alcohol problems.
Most were from lower social class and urban backgrounds but
several were from middle class families and more rural areas. |
Publications/
dissemination |
Read
the report |
| Contact |
Sarah
Wilson |
|
