The experience of growing up with an alcoholic adult at home in Malta

Abstract

The negative effects of alcohol on the alcoholic as well as their family and friends has been long felt and documented (Benishek, Kirby, Leggett Dugosh, & Faranda- Diedrich, 2006). This study aims at giving a voice to the Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACoAs) who have the experience of growing up with an alcoholic adult at home in Malta. This is a qualitative study consisting of a collection of five semi-structured interviews which were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). A set of four superordinate themes emerged from the data set namely: the alcoholic’s behaviour, a family’s reaction to alcoholism, a child’s reaction to alcoholism and an adult child’s reaction to alcoholism. The study suggests that despite the hardships encountered by the ACoAs they have shown resilience in the face of adversity.