Living Fatherhood in Adults Addicted to Substances: A Qualitative Study of Fathers in Psycho-Rehabilitative Drug Addiction Treatment for Heroin and Cocaine
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Material and Methods
2.1. Research Questions
- the relationship of the participants with their father and with educational models; and,
- fundamental values attributed to the father figure;
- the effects of substance abuse in the father-child relationship.
2.2. Participants
2.3. Metodology
- general characteristics of the participants;
- the type of family in which they recognize themselves;
- their perception of paternity;
- the relationship with one’s father;
- the absence of the father figure in their lives and during the period of dependence;
- the perception of self as a father;
- the trust placed in the educational role of the partner;
- the fundamental characteristics in terms of behavior, attitude, and personality, which should absolutely have the father figure; and,
- the character and personological aspects that a father should not have.
- whether and how addiction to substances has affected the parent-child relationship.
2.4. Eligibility Criteria
2.5. Sampling and Recruitment Strategy
2.6. Setting
2.7. Data Collection and Processing
2.8. Data Management
2.9. Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Participants’Characteristics
3.2. Themes
3.2.1. Theme 1: Relationship with the Father
“My father was absent and disinterested, or at least unable to interact positively” (Antonio., 37 years old)
Subtheme 1: Paternal Family Script
“Yes, in some aspects I find similarities with my father and my way of being a father” (Alfio., 48 years old)
Subtheme 2: Paternal Deficiency
“I have always looked for my father, but he has always been too absent for different work commitments, for too much age difference and for the presence of a double family” (Carmelo., 39 years)
3.2.2. Theme 2: Values Associated with the Father
“A father must have patience, wait for us to be ready, to be able to support for good and evil, to have a constructive way of making things understood, he must not raise his hands, he must not transmit anxiety and think for himself and his children” (Gaetano., 43 years)
Subtheme 1: Change in the Father Role
“Today the father is more present and less regarded as a figure of economic support” (Andrea., 50 years)
Subtheme 2: Presence, Understanding and Authority
“The father must be strict at the right point, help for the proper education of his children but the most important thing is that he must also be a friend for his child, he must not be violent or absent, must be respected for the good he gives and for his presence” (Davide., 30 years)
3.2.3. Theme 3: Addiction and Paternity
“My addiction affected my fatherhood. My addiction affected my relationship with my daughter because I miss her, she cries when she comes to see me and then she has to leave me. I love her so much. (Angelo, 43 years)
Subtheme 1: Addiction and Family Relationships
“Dependence has alienated me, it is destructive, with a word it destroys relationships” (G., 43 years)
Subtheme 2: The Children’s Experiences
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Characteristics of Participants | Total (n = 18) |
---|---|
Gender male: n (%) | 18 (100%) |
Age: mean years (sd) | 42.3 (9.1) |
Age onset of substance abuse disorders: mean years (sd) | 18.1 (4.8) |
Theme | SubTheme |
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Relationship with thefather |
|
Values associated with the father |
|
Addiction and paternity |
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Caponnetto, P.; Triscari, C.; Maglia, M. Living Fatherhood in Adults Addicted to Substances: A Qualitative Study of Fathers in Psycho-Rehabilitative Drug Addiction Treatment for Heroin and Cocaine. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 1051. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17031051
Caponnetto P, Triscari C, Maglia M. Living Fatherhood in Adults Addicted to Substances: A Qualitative Study of Fathers in Psycho-Rehabilitative Drug Addiction Treatment for Heroin and Cocaine. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17(3):1051. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17031051
Chicago/Turabian StyleCaponnetto, Pasquale, Chiara Triscari, and Marilena Maglia. 2020. "Living Fatherhood in Adults Addicted to Substances: A Qualitative Study of Fathers in Psycho-Rehabilitative Drug Addiction Treatment for Heroin and Cocaine" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 3: 1051. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17031051