Intimate partner violence, fatherhood, and co-parenting of men in residential substance misuse treatment

Parenting Challenges and Opportunities among Families Living in Poverty

Poverty-related stressors have been found to impact parenting behaviors which can result in adverse outcomes for children. The current qualitative study focused on understanding the challenges of caregivers (N = 70) living in poverty. The sample was diverse and included mothers, fathers, and grandparents raising grandchildren. Stories of caregivers were gathered to improve the understanding of families living in poverty in an effort to work towards changing how our world supports families that are vulnerable. Results indicate that families experiencing poverty and related risk factors experience challenges in the realm of child safety, education, and racism/prejudice. Families also discussed ways to improve their environment which included increased financial resources, increased access to high-quality healthcare and childcare, and positive environmental change. Note that the current study outlines the complexity of parenting in poverty and that associated challenges are intertwined. Recommendations are made to address systemic barriers at the individual and community level in an effort to better support caregivers experiencing adversity and parenting in the 21st century.

Fathers and substance misuse: a literature review

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the following research questions from the available literature: What evidence is there to suggest that substance misuse specifically by fathers (including alcohol and other drugs) causes wider harms, including child welfare concerns? substance misuse, recovery, parents, fathers, fathering, drugs/ alcohol services. How do professionals respond specifically to substance misuse by fathers? Do interventions aimed at parental substance misuse (particularly in the UK) include both mothers and fathers and if so how?

Design/methodology/approach

A scoping literature review was conducted which identified 34 papers (including scoping reviews published in 2006 and 2008, covering the period 1990-2005) and 26 additional studies published between 2002 and 2020.

Findings

The review in this paper is organised into six themes: Negative impact of men’s substance misuse problems on their parenting behaviours; quality of the relationship between parents affected by substance misuse of the fathers, in turn affecting the parenting behaviour and outcomes for children; importance to fathers of their fathering role (for example, as a financial provider); difficulties fathers may face in developing their fathering role; sidelining of the fathering role in substance misuse services; and professionals tending to focus on the mother’s role in parenting inventions and services.

Originality/value

This paper focusses on fathers and substance misuse, which is an under-researched field within the wider contexts of fathering research and research into parental substance misuse.

Living Fatherhood in Adults Addicted to Substances: A Qualitative Study of Fathers in Psycho-Rehabilitative Drug Addiction Treatment for Heroin and Cocaine

The research aims to investigate the emotional experiences of the individuals who use drugs in terms of their parenting role as father, within a rehabilitative context. The study aims to analyze how dependence affects the exercise of the parental role, specifically paternity, with the aim of offering an overview of the father-son relationship while considering the possible limitations that characterize those who are forced to live parenting in an atypical way. It is necessary to help individuals who use drugs to be able to help them in life with the goal of establish a better parenting awareness and a good relationship with their father and their children. The research work made use of qualitative tools, specifically semi-structured interview, which was administered to a sample of 18 fathers that were treated in a rehabilitation clinic for individuals who use drugs. The used semi-structured interview made it possible to analyze the perception of participants about their paternity, the quality of the relationship with their father and their children, and the influence that the narcotic substance has generated in the relationship with their father and with their children.

Coparenting of fathers in residential substance use treatment

Purpose

Few studies have examined coparenting characteristics and experiences of fathers who use substances and are aggressive with their partners. The purpose of this paper is to use quantitative and qualitative measures to increase knowledge of coparenting of fathers with co-occurring substance use disorders and histories of intimate partner violence (IPV) to inform intervention efforts with this population.

Design/methodology/approach

Baseline interviews were used from 62 fathers in a residential treatment center who participated in a longitudinal research study about interventions for substance-misusing fathers. Coparenting-related themes were identified through qualitatively analyzing transcripts of fathers’ responses to the Articulated Thoughts in Simulated Situations (ATSS) task. Fathers completed the Coparenting Relationship Scale (CRS), Conflict Tactics Scale Revised and the Child Trauma Questionnaire. Correlations were examined to determine if themes generated from the ATSS task were associated with IPV severity or coparenting relationship.

Findings

Qualitative analysis of transcripts revealed six themes: hostility, dismissiveness, non-confrontational, child-focused, feeling undermined and being active or non-active in the ATSS task. Qualitative themes were not significantly correlated with self-reported coparenting on the CRS except coded dismissive responses were positively associated with self-reported undermining by their coparent. Self-reported physical and psychological aggression were significantly positively associated with self-reported coparent undermining but were not significantly associated with qualitative themes.

Originality/value

This study is the first to use qualitative analysis of responses to coparenting situations to understand ways fathers in substance misuse treatment with histories of IPV think about coparenting to guide interventions.

A randomized pilot trial of two parenting interventions for fathers in residential substance use disorder treatment

Residential substance misuse treatment programs for men typically do not integrate treatment for intimate partner violence (IPV) or parenting despite significant overlap between substance misuse, IPV and child maltreatment. A randomized trial compared two fatherhood focused interventions in 6-month residential substance misuse treatment programs. Fathers for Change (F4C) is an integrated intervention targeting IPV and child maltreatment. Dads 'n' Kids (DNK) is a psychoeducational intervention focused on child development and behavioral parenting skills. Sixty-two fathers were randomly assigned to F4C or DNK. They received 12 weeks of individual treatment while in the residential facility and were offered 4 aftercare sessions following discharge. They were assessed prior to treatment, at the time of residential discharge, following completion of the intervention booster sessions, and 3 months following intervention. Overall, both groups showed significant reductions in affect dysregulation, anger, and IPV. F4C fathers showed significantly greater decreases in affect dysregulation problems. There were no significant differences between groups on IPV but men who received F4C may have been less likely to use substances after leaving residential treatment. Integration of fatherhood focused interventions were possible and welcomed by residents at the facilities. F4C showed some benefit over DNK in terms of affect dysregulation symptoms and substance use relapse.

Where's Dad? The Importance of Integrating Fatherhood and Parenting Programming into Substance Use Treatment for Men

Large numbers of men enter substance use disorder treatment each year, yet very little attention is paid to the fatherhood and parenting status of these men. Substance use treatment programs rarely incorporate a parenting component into their treatment planning, despite increased success of women's treatment programs that focus on gender and motherhood. This paper provides: 1) a review of the literature on the fathering of substance using men, what has been learned from substance use disorder treatment for mothers, and the implications for children and families; 2) pilot quantitative and qualitative outcomes on implementation of a fatherhood focused intervention for men in a residential substance use treatment program; and 3) recommendations for the application of these findings for fathers in substance use disorder treatment and the implications of program modifications and increased focus on fathers for child welfare.

Integrating intimate partner violence and parenting intervention into residential substance use disorder treatment for fathers

Despite positive outcomes for the incorporation of gender- and motherhood-focused programing within substance use disorder treatment programs for women, a focus on gender and fatherhood has not been the focus of intervention or evaluation research for men in substance use disorder treatment. This was a mixed method study to examine the initial feasibility of incorporating a fatherhood-focused intervention within a substance use disorder treatment program for men. Forty-four fathers enrolled in a coordinated intervention for intimate partner violence and parenting. Interviews were conducted at baseline and follow-up to assess the impact of the intervention on anger, hostile thinking and emotion regulation problems. Focus groups were also conducted with the participants to gain further insight into their needs as fathers and their recommendations for interventions that they would find helpful. Results indicated a high prevalence of anger related thoughts at baseline that significantly decreased at follow up; there were also significant reductions in affect regulation problems. Importantly, 84.1% of participants completed the program in its entirety and were highly satisfied with the content. These findings suggest that Fathers for Change can be implemented, successfully, in a men's residential treatment program.