Social Support Strategies in Online Forums Among Adult Offspring of Parents with Harmful Alcohol Use

Abstract

The authors categorized communication strategies employed to exchange social support (type and person centeredness) in three online forums about parents with harmful drinking. Data included discussion postreplies over 2 months; N = 1,644 units of analysis. Support type categories were identification, emotional, informational, network, and esteem. For person centeredness, most messages were moderate (expressed sympathy, provided distraction), followed by high (helped with feelings), and then low (minimized feelings). Adult offspring of parents with harmful drinking predominantly communicate self-interested forms of support in online forums. Based on principles of supportive communication, esteem support and high person centeredness may enhance social support in these settings.

Caregivers of People with Substance use or Mental Health Disorders in the US

“…Similarly, a study of adult children of parents with mental health disorders found that, as children, they took over responsibilities for the family (cooking, cleaning, caring for younger siblings and the parent) when the parent was incapable of caretaking 18 . Following a disrupted childhood for which the parent was responsible, the adult child may continue or begin the parental role as a caregiver for a long duration, which may be experienced as quite burdensome in adulthood 21 , 22 …”

“…18 Following a disrupted childhood for which the parent was responsible, the adult child may continue or begin the parental role as a caregiver for a long duration, which may be experienced as quite burdensome in adulthood. 21,22 A related reason that caregiving for a parent with SU/ MHD has negative health correlates is that, while parents prioritize autonomy and self-sufficiency, adult children prioritize parents' safety and convention 23 ; this difference in priorities may be particularly difficult in light of the lack of safety associated with SU/MHD. Among adult caregivers of parents, parents often kept information about their activities and well-being from their children to protect their autonomy, whereas adult children were vigilant about their parents' well-being because they feared not providing adequate care.…”