Sons of problem-drinking fathers: Narratives on the father–son relationship

Abstract

While family relations can at best offer attachment, love, and nurture, at worst they can be enervating, neglectful, and oppressive. In this article, narratives on the father–son relationship in the context of the father’s alcohol problems are identified and discussed. Adult sons who have lived with problem-drinking fathers are given a voice through interviews, and their life stories explored. What kinds of narratives are found in sons’ life stories that deal with the father–son relationship? How has the relationship evolved, including emotionally, during the son’s life? The study data comprise life story interviews (N = 21) with men aged 21–42 years. The narrative analysis yielded four types of story about the father–son relationship during the son’s life course: Narrative of Fondness, Narrative of Irritation, Narrative of Melancholy, and Narrative of Hatred. The study reveals the centrality of different emotions and the dynamic nature of relationships in these narratives on challenging family relations.