Exploring caregiver perspectives in the context of parental substance use: A qualitative study
Background: Parental substance use is a substantial public health and safeguarding concern. Research examining the impact of parental substance use upon children is well-established, but there is a lack of research examining how parents/caregivers cope with their parenting role within the context of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-08-01
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| Series: | Child Protection and Practice |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950193824000391 |
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| author | Simon Barrett Deborah Smart Angela Bate Lisa Beresford Cath McEvoy-Carr Helen Thompson Eilish Gilvarry Vera Araujo-Soares Eileen Kaner Ruth McGovern |
| author_facet | Simon Barrett Deborah Smart Angela Bate Lisa Beresford Cath McEvoy-Carr Helen Thompson Eilish Gilvarry Vera Araujo-Soares Eileen Kaner Ruth McGovern |
| author_sort | Simon Barrett |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Parental substance use is a substantial public health and safeguarding concern. Research examining the impact of parental substance use upon children is well-established, but there is a lack of research examining how parents/caregivers cope with their parenting role within the context of another parent's substance use, or how best to support these parents/caregivers. Objective: This paper examines the experiences and support needs of parents/caregivers impacted by another parent's substance use. Participants: Nineteen parents/caregivers from substance exposed families via local community-based voluntary sector support organizations, in urban and rural settings in northeast England. Methods: Qualitative, in-depth interviews with caregivers (mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, aged 25 to 65+ years) of dependent aged children (aged 4 to17 years) in substance exposed families. Thematic analysis explored their experiences and support needs. Results: Cumulative stress impacted parents/caregivers in their parenting role, creating further challenges in caring for children impacted by another parent's substance use. Parents/caregivers felt their needs went unrecognized by support services, and interactions with statutory services frequently exacerbated their stress. Parents/caregivers worried about what to disclose to children about substance use and how and when to do this. Conclusion: Parents/caregivers attempted to mitigate the risk of another parent's substance use upon the children in their care. They often perceived lack of appropriate support specifically for parents/caregivers, particularly considering the extra challenges they faced caring for children in the context of parental substance use. Resources to support parents/caregivers in talking with children about these issues may offer guidance and reassurance to caregivers to alleviate some of their stress. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a9120565d96b4fcdbd5059fe83b65501 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2950-1938 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Child Protection and Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-a9120565d96b4fcdbd5059fe83b655012025-08-20T02:04:18ZengElsevierChild Protection and Practice2950-19382024-08-01210003910.1016/j.chipro.2024.100039Exploring caregiver perspectives in the context of parental substance use: A qualitative studySimon Barrett0Deborah Smart1Angela Bate2Lisa Beresford3Cath McEvoy-Carr4Helen Thompson5Eilish Gilvarry6Vera Araujo-Soares7Eileen Kaner8Ruth McGovern9Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK; Corresponding author.Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UKNursing, Midwifery and Health, University of Northumbria, Newcastle, UKNewcastle University, UKNewcastle City Council, UKPROPS North East, UKCumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear Trust NHS Foundation Trust, UKMedical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Center for Preventive Medicine and Digital Health (CPD), UKPopulation Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UKPopulation Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UKBackground: Parental substance use is a substantial public health and safeguarding concern. Research examining the impact of parental substance use upon children is well-established, but there is a lack of research examining how parents/caregivers cope with their parenting role within the context of another parent's substance use, or how best to support these parents/caregivers. Objective: This paper examines the experiences and support needs of parents/caregivers impacted by another parent's substance use. Participants: Nineteen parents/caregivers from substance exposed families via local community-based voluntary sector support organizations, in urban and rural settings in northeast England. Methods: Qualitative, in-depth interviews with caregivers (mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, aged 25 to 65+ years) of dependent aged children (aged 4 to17 years) in substance exposed families. Thematic analysis explored their experiences and support needs. Results: Cumulative stress impacted parents/caregivers in their parenting role, creating further challenges in caring for children impacted by another parent's substance use. Parents/caregivers felt their needs went unrecognized by support services, and interactions with statutory services frequently exacerbated their stress. Parents/caregivers worried about what to disclose to children about substance use and how and when to do this. Conclusion: Parents/caregivers attempted to mitigate the risk of another parent's substance use upon the children in their care. They often perceived lack of appropriate support specifically for parents/caregivers, particularly considering the extra challenges they faced caring for children in the context of parental substance use. Resources to support parents/caregivers in talking with children about these issues may offer guidance and reassurance to caregivers to alleviate some of their stress.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950193824000391Parental substance useNon-using parentsParents/caregiversParentingChildren |
| spellingShingle | Simon Barrett Deborah Smart Angela Bate Lisa Beresford Cath McEvoy-Carr Helen Thompson Eilish Gilvarry Vera Araujo-Soares Eileen Kaner Ruth McGovern Exploring caregiver perspectives in the context of parental substance use: A qualitative study Child Protection and Practice Parental substance use Non-using parents Parents/caregivers Parenting Children |
| title | Exploring caregiver perspectives in the context of parental substance use: A qualitative study |
| title_full | Exploring caregiver perspectives in the context of parental substance use: A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Exploring caregiver perspectives in the context of parental substance use: A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring caregiver perspectives in the context of parental substance use: A qualitative study |
| title_short | Exploring caregiver perspectives in the context of parental substance use: A qualitative study |
| title_sort | exploring caregiver perspectives in the context of parental substance use a qualitative study |
| topic | Parental substance use Non-using parents Parents/caregivers Parenting Children |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950193824000391 |
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