Page 51 - Petelin Ana. Ur. 2022. Zdravje otrok in mladostnikov / Health of children and adolescents. Proceedings. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
P. 51
ication, families affected by alcohol addiction are usually characterized by growing up in a family with alcohol addiction and the importance of strengthening protective factors ... 51
the exact opposite, namely, unclear, inconsistent, and often deficient commu-
nication, which is often negative, offensive, and lacks the expression of warmth
and sensibility (Sheridan and Green, 1993; Johnson and Stone, 2009).
A non-alcoholic parent is usually so occupied with their partner’s alcohol
addiction that they are unable to consistently meet or respond to their child’s
needs (Haverfield and Theiss, 2014). Therefore, these children are often left to
fend for themselves, for which they develop various strategies, including de-
fense mechanisms such as denial and repression (Black, 1992). In these families,
a common phenomenon called the parentification of the child occurs, which
means that a child takes care of the alcoholic parent, instead of the adult being
the one meeting their child’s basic needs (Pasternak and Schier, 2012).
Black (1992) defines two basic rules that are usually formed in families af-
fected by alcohol addiction: “don’t trust” and “don’t tell”. When the child in
the family is not raised in a safe environment and lacks a secure attachment to
their parents, they consequently also have difficulties trusting other adults. Al-
cohol addiction at home is kept as a family secret, which is often a result of the
stigma present outside the family unit (Haverfield and Theiss, 2015).
Stigma
The presence of stigmatization of alcohol addiction plays an important role
in experiencing and dealing with the circumstances of addiction in the fami-
ly. Despite the fact that drinking alcohol is socially acceptable in Slovenia, it is
also common that an individual who becomes addicted to alcohol is sudden-
ly pushed to the edge of society. Some research has shown that most people be-
lieve that the person who becomes addicted has only themselves to blame for
their problems, since addiction is often attributed to character traits. As a re-
sult, addicted individuals are more often socially distanced than those with
other mental illnesses (Haverfield and Theiss, 2015).
The stigma influences not only the individual who is addicted, but al-
so their family members (WHO, 2014 in: Haverfield and Theiss, 2015). The fact
that members avoid talking about addiction within the family strengthens stig-
matization. This makes the topic a taboo, which further encourages children
to keep family alcoholism a secret. The more severe the form of alcoholism, the
greater the need to hide everything that happens at home (Haverfield and The-
iss, 2015). At the same time, children often experience feelings of shame, guilt,
anger, and loneliness, which, due to the stigma, keeps them from sharing their
situation with others (Black, 1992; Pasternak and Schier, 2012). This contributes
to more negative outcomes of growing up in family affected by alcohol addic-
tion.
Psychosocial and health consequences of growing up in family affected by
alcohol addiction
the exact opposite, namely, unclear, inconsistent, and often deficient commu-
nication, which is often negative, offensive, and lacks the expression of warmth
and sensibility (Sheridan and Green, 1993; Johnson and Stone, 2009).
A non-alcoholic parent is usually so occupied with their partner’s alcohol
addiction that they are unable to consistently meet or respond to their child’s
needs (Haverfield and Theiss, 2014). Therefore, these children are often left to
fend for themselves, for which they develop various strategies, including de-
fense mechanisms such as denial and repression (Black, 1992). In these families,
a common phenomenon called the parentification of the child occurs, which
means that a child takes care of the alcoholic parent, instead of the adult being
the one meeting their child’s basic needs (Pasternak and Schier, 2012).
Black (1992) defines two basic rules that are usually formed in families af-
fected by alcohol addiction: “don’t trust” and “don’t tell”. When the child in
the family is not raised in a safe environment and lacks a secure attachment to
their parents, they consequently also have difficulties trusting other adults. Al-
cohol addiction at home is kept as a family secret, which is often a result of the
stigma present outside the family unit (Haverfield and Theiss, 2015).
Stigma
The presence of stigmatization of alcohol addiction plays an important role
in experiencing and dealing with the circumstances of addiction in the fami-
ly. Despite the fact that drinking alcohol is socially acceptable in Slovenia, it is
also common that an individual who becomes addicted to alcohol is sudden-
ly pushed to the edge of society. Some research has shown that most people be-
lieve that the person who becomes addicted has only themselves to blame for
their problems, since addiction is often attributed to character traits. As a re-
sult, addicted individuals are more often socially distanced than those with
other mental illnesses (Haverfield and Theiss, 2015).
The stigma influences not only the individual who is addicted, but al-
so their family members (WHO, 2014 in: Haverfield and Theiss, 2015). The fact
that members avoid talking about addiction within the family strengthens stig-
matization. This makes the topic a taboo, which further encourages children
to keep family alcoholism a secret. The more severe the form of alcoholism, the
greater the need to hide everything that happens at home (Haverfield and The-
iss, 2015). At the same time, children often experience feelings of shame, guilt,
anger, and loneliness, which, due to the stigma, keeps them from sharing their
situation with others (Black, 1992; Pasternak and Schier, 2012). This contributes
to more negative outcomes of growing up in family affected by alcohol addic-
tion.
Psychosocial and health consequences of growing up in family affected by
alcohol addiction
