Abstract: (13 Views)
Introduction: Parental addiction may expose children to stressful circumstances and family-related difficulties, requiring them to employ various coping strategies. Purpose: Given the importance of understanding the experiences of children with a Substance-using parent, the present study aimed to explore their coping mechanisms based on their lived experiences. Method: This research was conducted with a qualitative approach and phenomenological method in 2016-2017. The study population consisted of adolescents aged 14 to 18 years who had a Substance-using father or mother. Purposive and snowball sampling methods were used, and nine adolescents with a Substance-using parent participated in the study until data saturation was reached. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological analysis method. Results: Analysis and coding of the interview data revealed three main categories of coping mechanisms. Active mechanisms included compensating for family dysfunction through academic achievement, relying on parental substitutes within the extended family, and maintaining hope and striving for the future. Passive mechanisms included seeking refuge in peers. Avoidant mechanisms included compensating for humiliation through bullying and disruptive behaviors, suicidal behavior, seeking others’ attention, cigarette smoking, and developing positive attitudes toward substance use. Conclusion: Adolescents with a Substance-using parent employ a range of active, passive, and avoidant coping mechanisms when confronting circumstances associated with parental addiction. These mechanisms, as reflected in participants’ lived experiences, ranged from attempts to compensate for family dysfunction and maintain hope for the future to seeking refuge in peers and engaging in avoidant and potentially harmful behaviors.
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