Invisible victims or competent agents: Opinions and ways of coping among children aged 12–18 years with problem drinking parents

Abstract

Aims: The article describes the lives of children with problem drinking parents from children's own perspective, emphasizing their experiences, agency and coping.

Methods: The qualitative data were collected with a web-based questionnaire advertised on two children's and adolescents’ help pages. The final sample consisted of 70 volunteers between the ages 12 and 18 years, mostly girls (17% were boys).

Findings: Children with problem drinking parents are a hidden population and neglected by services, which they need. Children have, however, developed their own ways of trying to cope. They also have various practical suggestions and opinions concerning services and the type of help they would find useful.

Conclusions: Harms inflicted to children are an important reason for preventing substance misuse. It is also important that children are heard by professionals and authorities dealing with family problems, and that one understands, supports and respects children's own agency and ways of coping. Children's ways of coping can differ from those of the adults. Further studies on children living with problem drinking parents are needed. The study shows that internet can be one way of collecting research data from this otherwise hard-to-reach group.