Understanding Child Maltreatment and Support Needs in Families with Problematic Parental Substance use

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Child maltreatment (CM) is a significant public health issue with long-term consequences.
• Problematic parental substance use (PPSU) is a known risk factor for CM.
• Understanding the complex interplay between PPSU and CM is vital for effective intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To deepen the understanding of child maltreatment (CM) in the context of problematic parental substance use (PPSU).
• To identify the individual and familial support needs associated with this intersection.
• To explore risk and protective factors influencing CM in families with PPSU.

Main Methods:

• Inductive qualitative content analysis of life stories from experts-by-experience (N=11).
• Participants had experienced both PPSU and various forms of CM during childhood and adolescence.
• Focus on physical and emotional violence, and neglect within the family environment.

Main Results:

• Identified numerous family-related and parental risk factors for CM, including intergenerational substance use, socioeconomic disadvantage, parental health issues, and inadequate parenting.
• Highlighted mitigating factors that offered partial buffering against adverse effects.
• Confirmed diverse and persistent support needs for affected children and families.

Conclusions:

• Problematic parental substance use (PPSU) exposes children to a wide spectrum of harmful child maltreatment (CM) experiences.
• Effective early identification necessitates close collaboration between social and health services, alongside active client engagement.
• A holistic approach to understanding individual and family circumstances is essential for preventing CM and its intergenerational transmission.