Like father, like son? : an intergenerational study of Maltese fathers and sons with substance use problem

Abstract

The study explores the father-son relationship when both father and son have a history of substance use. Their experiences on their relationship were viewed from early parenting, to when both father and son were active on illicit substances and finally to the transformative experience when they both abstained from substance use. The individual interviews were conducted with each of the three father-son dyads which were recruited through a purposeful sample. The analysis led to six superordinate themes illustrating the meaning making of the father-son relationship when both of them were active on illicit substances and the transformative relationship when both of them recovered from addiction. The fathers’ own difficulties in their family of origin as well as their own fathering experience when active on illicit substances were explored. This study also provides a systemic understanding of the impact on the father-son relationship by other systems. This led to a discussion around understanding the transgenerational transmission of addictions thought repetitive or corrected behaviour in the family system. Nonetheless, the important shift from an individual-focused perspective to a systems-focused perspective was highlighted.