Being and becoming a father in the context of heavy drinking and other substance use—a qualitative evidence synthesis

Abstract

This qualitative evidence synthesis informs intervention development by systematically searching, evaluating and synthesizing qualitative studies on fatherhood in the context of heavy drinking and other substance use. We searched seven databases, grey literature and reference lists to identify eligible studies. Our international sample includes 156 fathers of different ages, cultural backgrounds and family living arrangements across 14 unique studies. The lead author applied thematic synthesis to develop the themes, in an ongoing dialogue with team members. Our understanding of fatherhood in the context of heavy drinking and other substance use is communicated through six themes. Fathers’ heavy drinking and other substance use can be understood as a method of emotional coping. Fathers’ substance use choices are intertwined with their social contexts from childhood to adulthood. Being a safe presence in children’s lives is a potentially overlooked aspect of fathers’ substance use interventions. In our qualitative evidence synthesis, we observed the pivotal role of supportive relationships in fathers’ substance use trajectories. We recommend co-produced intervention development that considers both fathers as individuals and as members of social networks. This is relevant across statutory, community and voluntary sector settings.

Keywords:

• Fathers
• alcohol
• drugs
• substance use
• addiction
• family
• lived expertise
• qualitative evidence synthesis
• intervention development

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This is independent research supported by the National Institute for Health Research HEE/NIHR ICA Programme Pre-doctoral Clinical Academic Fellowship, Domna Salonen, NIHR301146. The views to be expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the National Institute for Health Research or the Department of Health and Social Care. While contributing to this review, E. Adams was supported by the NIHR School for Public Health Research (SPHR) Pre-doctoral Fellowship Funding Scheme, Grant Reference Number PD-SPH-2015. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. Cassey Muir is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) School for Public Health Research (SPHR), Grant Reference Number PD-SPH-2015. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.