Mothering in the context of fathers’ problematic alcohol use

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to broaden the knowledge about how mothers are affected by the other parent’s problematic alcohol use. The study is qualitative and based on interviews with 23 mothers. Theories of motherhood are used in the analysis. Due to the fathers’ problematic alcohol use, the mothers are not only responsible for the child–father relationship, but also for all the practicalities concerning children and their safety. These responsibilities are, to a large extent, the same before and after a separation. For children growing up with a parent who has a problematic alcohol use, the other parent can be a protective factor. The results reveal how much stress and strain mothers face due to the other parents’ problematic alcohol use and also that they are in need of support to better handle their and their children’s situation. However, most of them experience lack of support. Support seems to be connected to the shared parenthood and therefore depending on fathers’ participation and social workers fail to acknowledge the mothers’ needs. Furthermore, the mothers’ ability to compensate for fathers’ flaws in fact plays a part in society not supporting the mothers.