Impact of Parental Substance Abuse on Children: A Review of Literature
Document Type
Poster Presentation
Keywords
substance abuse, risk factors, family
Biography
This literature review examines the increased risk for children of parents with substance use disorder for psychological, behavioral, and physical health.
Major
Psychology
Advisor for this project
Dr. Koontz
Abstract
This literature review examines the effects that substance use disorder in one or more parents has on children living in the home. There are millions of children in the United States living with a parent with substance use disorder, and as substance use has become a larger epidemic in recent years, it is important to understand the potential risk factors these children are exposed to. Based on the reviewed research in this study, Children of parents with substance use disorder have shown to be largely affected in their behavior as they are at high risk for externalizing and internalizing behavior symptoms which have later shown an increase in behavioral and psychological disorders. The literature shows that parental substance abuse has significantly shown to risk the children’s safety in ways such as exposure to violence, risk of maltreatment, and overall health. Children with parents with substance use disorder are also at a higher risk of developing substance use disorder themselves in the future. Overall, substance use disorder affects more than the individual, in fact, substance use disorder can affect generations to come in a cycle of difficult behavioral outcomes, psychological disorders, and exposure to harm. Becoming aware of the ways parental substance use affects children can aid in lowering the possibly harmful risks and help to implement possible interventions for future families.
Impact of Parental Substance Abuse on Children: A Review of Literature
This literature review examines the effects that substance use disorder in one or more parents has on children living in the home. There are millions of children in the United States living with a parent with substance use disorder, and as substance use has become a larger epidemic in recent years, it is important to understand the potential risk factors these children are exposed to. Based on the reviewed research in this study, Children of parents with substance use disorder have shown to be largely affected in their behavior as they are at high risk for externalizing and internalizing behavior symptoms which have later shown an increase in behavioral and psychological disorders. The literature shows that parental substance abuse has significantly shown to risk the children’s safety in ways such as exposure to violence, risk of maltreatment, and overall health. Children with parents with substance use disorder are also at a higher risk of developing substance use disorder themselves in the future. Overall, substance use disorder affects more than the individual, in fact, substance use disorder can affect generations to come in a cycle of difficult behavioral outcomes, psychological disorders, and exposure to harm. Becoming aware of the ways parental substance use affects children can aid in lowering the possibly harmful risks and help to implement possible interventions for future families.
