En tyst kamp bland tomma flaskor -En kvalitativ studie om unga kvinnors upplevelser av en förälders alkoholmissbruk

The aim of this study was to explore and understand young women who grew up with one parent with alcohol abuse. Through a document analysis in podcasts, six women shared their experiences from childhood to adult life in interviews. Erving Goffman’s theories about stigma as well as dramaturgy were used. The results showed how the women as children viewed close friends and adults in their everyday lives as an essential source of support, more so than working professionals which were described more negatively. However, in their adult years, many of them sought professional help and found it helpful. Mental illness within the alcohol-abusing parents was commonly described by the women. Only one of the women described physical abuse from the alcohol-abusing parent. Nevertheless, feelings of shame, embarrassment, anger, and stress toward the alcohol-abusing parent were common. In an attempt to suppress and avoid these emotions, both the women and their families adjusted their behavior, in an effort to hide the alcohol abuse. A high sense of responsibility towards the family was expressed among all of the women when growing up. Some women experienced difficulty letting go of the responsibility and control in their adulthood. However, moving out was also seen as an essential step towards a free and independent life.