The functioning of nuclear families affected by alcohol abuse of a father : the views of social workers

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Alcohol is a common substance for abuse among adults and teenagers, but most of all among the men in a household. In this study, the cause, effects and outcome of alcohol abuse by a father within a family were investigated and the researcher could identify the most common factors leading to individual alcohol abuse and how this behaviour eventually affects the family in general.In this study interviews were conducted with 20 social workers in the Western Cape who all have experience in service rendering in the field of alcohol abuse and specifically with regard to the general effects of alcohol abuse by a parent within the nuclear family.A combination of the qualitative – and the quantitative research approach was selected for this study. Furthermore, a combination of the exploratory - and descriptive research design was utilized as the framework for the implementation of the research approach.A purposive sample of twenty social workers was compiled, and data was collected through the means of semi-structured interviews following a pilot study to test the measurement instrument with only one social worker. The necessary changes were made to the measure instrument.Two literature studies are presented in this study, focusing on the prevalence and nature of alcohol abuse by fathers in nuclear families as well as the functioning of nuclear families affected by alcohol abuse by the father from a systems theory- perspective. These chapters two and three serve to achieve the first two objectives of this study. These two objectives deal with the understanding and description of the prevalence and nature of alcohol abuse by a father and the impact of this behaviour on the social functioning of the nuclear family.Chapter four is a presentation of the empirical study. Collected data was presented and analysed in accordance with the literature study. Data was analysed, through qualitative analysis and was presented according to identified themes, sub-themes and categories. Relevant tables, figures and participant narratives were used to further substantiate the analysis of data.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University