Grief experiences of parents coping with an adult child with problem substance use

Abstract

The study examined the grief experience of parents of adult children with problematic drug use, and its relationship to parental health and well-being, parent–child attachment and family communication. 49 parents (42 mothers and seven fathers), completed self-report measures of grief, health status, parent–child attachment and family communication. Participants reported experiencing grief in relation to their adult child's substance use problem as evidenced by cognitive intrusions, avoidance behavior and emotional distress. Increased parental grief was associated with reduced well-being and insecure parent–child relationship while greater cohesiveness in families was associated with lower levels of parental grief. The study provides valuable insights into grief experiences of parents of adult children with problem substance use. There is a clear need for parents to have their distress and grief acknowledged and validated and a need for interventions that promote grief work and facilitate family coping.