Identity transformation of mothers with substance abuse histories during a support group

Abstract

AbstractWhile previous literature has highlighted the significance of supporting mothers with substance abuse histories to create meaning from past events and reconstruct their self‐identities, empirical evidence on the use of existential–narrative interventions to facilitate the identity transformation of these mothers is generally lacking. This study presents qualitative results from interviews with 10 mothers with a history of substance abuse who participated in a support group in Hong Kong that employed an existential–narrative approach. Thematic analysis of the interviews revealed that before the intervention, participants reported several challenges concerning motherhood and difficulties around narrating their life stories. During the intervention, participants experienced an enhancement of mutual understanding and appreciation, acknowledged the emotional impact of negative life events, and began to reinterpret these events. After the intervention, emergent themes revealed positive changes in self‐perception, strengthened resistance to substance use, improved parent–child relationships and parenting practices, and improved family relationships. Altogether, the findings suggest that interventions adopting an existential–narrative approach may have benefits and implications for helping this population reorganize their self‐perceptions and achieve more positive life outcomes.