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Jan. 23, 2023 – On the other hand, the children also framed themselves as competent agents who developed effective coping strategies, such as trying to reduce their parent’s drinking and assuming the role of a “young carer.” A selective overview of Hagströma and Forinder’s results, broken down between Vulnerable Victim and Competent Agent, is provided below. In their life stories, the children understood themselves to be vulnerable victims. Parental alcoholism gave rise to various harmful experiences, including neglect of basic needs, verbal and physical violence, and sexual abuse by a family member. The participants struggled with feelings of abandonment, sadness and anger for lack of love and care, and anxiety and distress in dealing with the “two faces” of the alcoholic parent. Neglect and violence were most salient, and are described further below.

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