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

This study aims to enhance understanding of child maltreatment (CM) in connection with problematic parental substance use (PPSU) and to identify related individual and familial support needs.

Using inductive qualitative content analysis, we examined the life stories of trained experts-by-experience (N = 11) who had experienced PPSU and various forms of CM, including physical and emotional violence and neglect in their family during childhood and adolescence.

Several family-related and parental risk factors for CM emerged, such as intergenerational transmission of substance use, socioeconomic disadvantage, unemployment or excessive work, parental physical and mental health issues, social wellbeing challenges such as social isolation, violent behaviour, and inadequate parenting practices. Participants also described mitigating factors that partly buffered adverse effects.

The findings highlight diverse and persistent support needs. PPSU can expose children to a wide range of harmful CM experiences. Effective early identification of both PPSU and related CM requires close collaboration between social and health services, as well as inclusive and active client engagement. A holistic understanding of individual and family circumstances affected by PPSU is essential for preventing CM and its intergenerational transmission.