NCJ Number
214280
Journal
Child Abuse Review Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: March-April 2006 Pages: 79-88
Date Published
March 2006
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article presents research findings regarding the experiences of children living with and caring for parents with mental illness.
Abstract
Many enduring assumptions about negative child outcomes associated with providing care for a mentally ill parent are refuted by the research findings presented here. The findings challenge theories of role reversal that have held that the parent-child roles become reversed in situations where children must care for a mentally ill parent. The findings also indicate that, contrary to previously held assumptions, not all children who provide care for a mentally ill parent are at risk of harm, neglect, or developmental delay. Previous research concerning the assessment of parenting capacity is critiqued as methodologically flawed and based on middle-class assumptions of appropriate standards of domesticity. The author suggests that rather than placing judgments on parenting capacity and focusing narrowly on child risk, researchers should instead focus on discovering the needs of both parents with mental illness and the children who care for them. Research findings presented here were gathered through qualitative interviews with 40 parents who had been diagnosed with a severe and enduring mental health problem, their children who were providing care, and 40 key support workers in the United Kingdom. Participants were recruited through young carers projects. The research methodology employed a two-phase qualitative interview study that examined parents' experiences of care provision, children’s experiences of caring and co-residency, and the nature and extent of support services. Note, references