Struggling with own parenting after an upbringing with substance abusing parents

The current quantitative and qualitative PhD-project investigates whether adult children of substance abusing parents, seeking help in their parenting, are a particularly vulnerable group of patients. Major findings suggest a higher prevalence of ADHD, depressive symptoms, and previous own substance abuse, compared with parents without substance abuse in their family of origin. The participants described an upbringing with abuse and neglect and inadequate support from the community. Their childhood experience of being raised by abusing parents and the resulting challenges that this created for their own parenting role could negatively influence their children’s ability to developing a secure attachment pattern.