Relational parenthood in addiction recovery

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Addiction Studies

Background:

• Parenting experiences are significantly impacted by substance use disorders.
• Understanding parental identity is crucial for effective addiction treatment and recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how parents in family-focused substance abuse treatment perceive their parenthood in relation to others.
• To identify different types of relational parenthood within this population.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative thematic analysis of seven interviews with parents in a Finnish inpatient substance abuse treatment unit.
• Content coding using Atlas.ti22 and classification into five parenthood types: worn-out, coping, ambivalent, changing, and supported.
• Cross-tabulation of content codes and parenthood types to analyze relational emphasis.

Main Results:

• 'Worn-out' and 'coping' parenthood were most prominent in close relationships (children, partners).
• 'Ambivalent' parenthood reflected inner conflict across all relationships, potentially leading to 'changing' parenthood.
• 'Changing' parenthood emerged as empowering with children and indicated openness to help from others.
• 'Supported' parenthood was often linked to professionals and significant others within the treatment context.

Conclusions:

• Parenthood types highlight the dynamic nature of parenting during addiction recovery and social identity shifts.
• Recognizing diverse parental experiences is vital for strengthening clients' parenting capacity in treatment.
• This research underscores the importance of relational context in understanding parental identity during recovery.