Mapping the journey of families navigating problem drinking in South Asia: a scoping review

Abstract Background Problem drinking is a serious issue as it affects persons with problem drinking and family members including children, adolescents, spouses, and extended family members, thus affecting the entire family environment. This review aims to explore the evidence regarding challenges fa...

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Main Authors: Nikitha Sibil Rebello, Varalakshmi Chandra Sekaran, Lena Ashok, Ajay Bailey, Deepak Mallya, Divya Sussana Patil
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22967-y
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author Nikitha Sibil Rebello
Varalakshmi Chandra Sekaran
Lena Ashok
Ajay Bailey
Deepak Mallya
Divya Sussana Patil
author_facet Nikitha Sibil Rebello
Varalakshmi Chandra Sekaran
Lena Ashok
Ajay Bailey
Deepak Mallya
Divya Sussana Patil
author_sort Nikitha Sibil Rebello
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Problem drinking is a serious issue as it affects persons with problem drinking and family members including children, adolescents, spouses, and extended family members, thus affecting the entire family environment. This review aims to explore the evidence regarding challenges faced by family members including adolescent children, spouses, and extended family members due to a person with a problem drinking. The findings from the review will help inform further research to develop interventions for family members and for parents having problem drinking issues. Methods This scoping review was undertaken using the Joanna Briggs Institute framework. Six online databases were searched for relevant articles published in English from January 2003 to June 2023. Both quantitative and qualitative studies conducted in South Asia on challenges faced by family members living with either parent/s with problem drinking were included. Challenges were sorted into physical, psychological/emotional, social, and financial, as faced by family members. Results Forty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria. Of the 47 studies, 37 studies described challenges faced by spouses while 10 studies described challenges among adolescent children in households with parental problem drinking. Most studies focused on psychological/emotional challenges while more than half reported physical challenges. Since the scoping review aimed to map the evidence available on challenges faced by family members of a person with problem drinking, data was presented narratively. Conclusions This scoping review explored multifaceted challenges and consequences among families affected by a person with problem drinking. The review has provided insights into the complexities of problem drinking leading to disruptive family relationships, poor parenting, emotional vulnerabilities, and psychiatric morbidities. Healthcare professionals need to consider the challenges that affect the family while also considering each individual in the family in managing parental problem drinking.
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spelling doaj-art-b38159529bee449a92421b4aee14a7ea2025-08-20T02:15:28ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-05-0125111210.1186/s12889-025-22967-yMapping the journey of families navigating problem drinking in South Asia: a scoping reviewNikitha Sibil Rebello0Varalakshmi Chandra Sekaran1Lena Ashok2Ajay Bailey3Deepak Mallya4Divya Sussana Patil5Department of Global Public Health Policy and Governance, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher EducationDepartment of Global Public Health Policy and Governance, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher EducationDepartment of Social and Health Innovation, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher EducationDepartment of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Dr A V Baliga Memorial HospitalCentre for Evidence-informed Decision-making, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher EducationAbstract Background Problem drinking is a serious issue as it affects persons with problem drinking and family members including children, adolescents, spouses, and extended family members, thus affecting the entire family environment. This review aims to explore the evidence regarding challenges faced by family members including adolescent children, spouses, and extended family members due to a person with a problem drinking. The findings from the review will help inform further research to develop interventions for family members and for parents having problem drinking issues. Methods This scoping review was undertaken using the Joanna Briggs Institute framework. Six online databases were searched for relevant articles published in English from January 2003 to June 2023. Both quantitative and qualitative studies conducted in South Asia on challenges faced by family members living with either parent/s with problem drinking were included. Challenges were sorted into physical, psychological/emotional, social, and financial, as faced by family members. Results Forty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria. Of the 47 studies, 37 studies described challenges faced by spouses while 10 studies described challenges among adolescent children in households with parental problem drinking. Most studies focused on psychological/emotional challenges while more than half reported physical challenges. Since the scoping review aimed to map the evidence available on challenges faced by family members of a person with problem drinking, data was presented narratively. Conclusions This scoping review explored multifaceted challenges and consequences among families affected by a person with problem drinking. The review has provided insights into the complexities of problem drinking leading to disruptive family relationships, poor parenting, emotional vulnerabilities, and psychiatric morbidities. Healthcare professionals need to consider the challenges that affect the family while also considering each individual in the family in managing parental problem drinking.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22967-yParental problem drinkingAlcohol drinkingSubstance useAlcohol dependence syndromeFamily violenceIntimate partner violence
spellingShingle Nikitha Sibil Rebello
Varalakshmi Chandra Sekaran
Lena Ashok
Ajay Bailey
Deepak Mallya
Divya Sussana Patil
Mapping the journey of families navigating problem drinking in South Asia: a scoping review
BMC Public Health
Parental problem drinking
Alcohol drinking
Substance use
Alcohol dependence syndrome
Family violence
Intimate partner violence
title Mapping the journey of families navigating problem drinking in South Asia: a scoping review
title_full Mapping the journey of families navigating problem drinking in South Asia: a scoping review
title_fullStr Mapping the journey of families navigating problem drinking in South Asia: a scoping review
title_full_unstemmed Mapping the journey of families navigating problem drinking in South Asia: a scoping review
title_short Mapping the journey of families navigating problem drinking in South Asia: a scoping review
title_sort mapping the journey of families navigating problem drinking in south asia a scoping review
topic Parental problem drinking
Alcohol drinking
Substance use
Alcohol dependence syndrome
Family violence
Intimate partner violence
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22967-y
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