Creating and controlling a personal social world: the experiences of adults growing up in an environment of problem drinking

Abstract

Approximately one million children in the UK are living in families where at least one parent has problem drinking tendencies. Evidence explores risks to children growing up in this environment. However, there is limited evidence exploring what influences an adult who grew up in a home where a parent drank alcohol to excess to drink within recommended limits, and whether behaviour/decision making with respect to drinking alcohol within recommended limits is deliberate. This study used a constructivist grounded theory design. Eleven participants were selected via purposeful sampling for their experience of growing up in a family where problem drinking had been observed. Data were collected from one to one individual semi-structured interviews over a period of 23 months. There were three main stages in the analysis of the data, initial coding, focused coding and theoretical coding, and theoretical saturation.

The constructivist grounded theory gave consideration to human nature and social control, applying this to the creation and control of one’s own immediate personal social world where its influence stems from the impact of a parent/s problem drinking behaviour which were for the most part unpredictable and an environment that was largely unstable. Participants appeared to take control of, and responsibility for, the direction their lives have taken. Two key related aspects worthy of consideration in the context of clinical practice arising from this study are firstly, in relation to the attributes of resilience; harnessing it, and developing it, whilst acknowledging that not everyone has the same opportunities, or resources or ability to access these resources. Secondly, recognising the intensity of strategy development for maintaining drinking within recommended limits as a conscious decision where individuals develop personal strategies for achieving personal control.

It is essential that services acknowledge the impact these experiences can have and the variability of resources available to individuals. The Alcohol Liaison role needs to develop to include identifying those in a family where there is problem drinking behaviour and those with a family history of problem drinking behaviour. An individual approach is required for developing strategies for promoting resilience and prevention strategies need to be determined and agreed on an individual basis enabling the individual to take control of drinking alcohol within recommended limits.

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