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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Simon BarrettORCiD, Dr Cassey Muir, Professor Eileen KanerORCiD, Professor Ruth McGovernORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 2024 The AuthorsBackground: The parental risk factors of mental health problems, substance use, and domestic violence and abuse each individually negatively impacts children's health and developmental outcomes. Few studies have considered the lived experience and support needs of parents and children in the real-world situation where these common risks cluster. Objective: This study explores parents' and young people's lived experiences of the clustering of parental mental health problems, parental substance use, and domestic violence and abuse. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 mothers, 6 fathers, and 7 young people with experiences of these parental risk factors. Transcribed interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Four themes were developed, 1) cumulative adversity, 2) the impact of syndemic risk, 3) families navigating risk, and 4) family support. Parents and young people described family situations of stress wherein they experienced cumulative impact of multiple parental risk factors. Parents sought to navigate stressors and parent in positive ways under challenging conditions, often impeded by their own childhood trauma and diminished confidence. Parents and young people spoke of the need for, and benefits of having, support; both as a family and as individuals, to successfully address this trio of parental risks and the related impact. Conclusions: This study highlights the high level of stress families experience and the efforts they go to mitigate risk. Services and interventions need to reflect the complexity of multiple needs and consider both the whole family and individuals when providing support.
Author(s): Kedzior SGE, Barrett S, Muir C, Lynch R, Kaner E, Forman JR, Wolfe I, McGovern R
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect
Year: 2024
Volume: 149
Print publication date: 01/03/2024
Online publication date: 04/01/2024
Acceptance date: 14/12/2023
Date deposited: 24/01/2024
ISSN (print): 0145-2134
ISSN (electronic): 1873-7757
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106609
DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106609
Data Access Statement: The data that has been used is confidential
PubMed id: 38181566
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