Older women's experiences, identities and coping strategies for dealing with a problem-drinking male family member

被引:0
作者
Simonen, Jenni [1 ]
Toerroenen, Jukka [2 ]
机构
[1] Natl Inst Hlth & Welf, Unit Alcohol & Drugs, POB 30, FIN-00271 Helsinki, Finland
[2] Stockholm Univ, Sorad Ctr Social Res Alcohol & Drugs, Stockholm, Sweden
基金
芬兰科学院;
关键词
Coping; wives of alcoholics; drinking problems; autobiographies; qualitative research; identity; ALCOHOLS HARM; SUBSTANCE-ABUSE; HEAVY DRINKERS; OTHERS; WORK; DRUG; CHILDREN; PARTNER; PARENTS; HEALTH;
D O I
10.1080/09687637.2016.1184622
中图分类号
R194 [卫生标准、卫生检查、医药管理];
学科分类号
摘要
Aims: In this study, we highlight the identities and actions of women with a problem-drinking relative by analysing autobiographies of women born between the 1920s and the 1950s. We ask how women describe their relationship and the problems arising because of a significant other's drinking and how they cope with these problems. Methods: In the analysis, we pay attention to the power dynamics between family members. We, first, trace what kind of positions or identities the protagonists take in relation to the drinker. Second, we examine what kinds of harms and emotional reactions significant other's drinking causes. Third, we consider how writers identify or take distance from events described in the autobiographies. Findings: Our analysis reveals four main identities and coping strategies: the positions of victim, helper, boundary setter and fighter. The victim and helper positions often entail women's weakness and oppressed role, while the positions of boundary setter and fighter express women's own power and reflexivity in action. Conclusions: Knowledge of the identities and coping strategies is important for understanding the power aspects of a relationship and developing appropriate support for women suffering from family member's drinking.
引用
收藏
页码:409 / 417
页数:9
相关论文
共 47 条
  • [1] [Anonymous], 2010, SUKUPUOLEN JARJESTYK
  • [2] Asher R.M., 1992, Women with alcoholic husbands: Ambivalence and the trap of codependency
  • [3] CHALLENGING CHILDHOODS Young people's accounts of 'getting by' in families with substance use problems
    Backett-Milburn, Kathryn
    Wilson, Sarah
    Bancroft, Angus
    Cunningham-Burley, Sarah
    [J]. CHILDHOOD-A GLOBAL JOURNAL OF CHILD RESEARCH, 2008, 15 (04): : 461 - 479
  • [4] Benwell B, 2006, DISCOURSE AND IDENTITY, P1
  • [5] A problematic drinker in the family: Variations in the level of negative impact experienced by sex, relationship and living status
    Berends, Lynda
    Ferris, Jason
    Laslett, Anne-Marie
    [J]. ADDICTION RESEARCH & THEORY, 2012, 20 (04) : 300 - 306
  • [6] The parents' experience: coping with drug use in the family
    Butler, R
    Bauld, L
    [J]. DRUGS-EDUCATION PREVENTION AND POLICY, 2005, 12 (01) : 35 - 45
  • [7] THE ROLE OF WORK FOR WIVES OF ALCOHOLICS
    CASEY, JC
    GRIFFIN, ML
    GOOGINS, BK
    [J]. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE, 1993, 19 (01) : 119 - 131
  • [8] Alcohol's harm to others: reduced wellbeing and health status for those with heavy drinkers in their lives
    Casswell, Sally
    You, Ru Quan
    Huckle, Taisia
    [J]. ADDICTION, 2011, 106 (06) : 1087 - 1094
  • [9] Copello A., 2000, J MENT HEALTH, V9, P329, DOI [https://doi.org/10.1080/713680252, DOI 10.1080/713680252]
  • [10] Copello A., 1998, LIVING DRINK WOMEN W, P202