THE FUNCTIONING OF NUCLEAR FAMILIES AFFECTED BY ALCOHOL ABUSE OF A FATHER

180 Pages·2016·2.72 MB·English

THE FUNCTIONING OF NUCLEAR FAMILIES AFFECTED
BY ALCOHOL ABUSE OF A FATHER: THE VIEWS OF
SOCIAL WORKERS
By
JANELLE KÜHN
Thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of
Social Work in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of
Stellenbosch.
SUPERVISOR: DR I SLABBERT
MARCH 2016
Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za
This study is dedicated to my family
2014-2015
Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za

DECLARATION

By submitting this thesis electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein
is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof (save to the extent explicitly
otherwise stated), that the reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will
not infringe any third party rights and that I have not previously in its entirely or in part
submitted it at any university for obtaining any qualification.

Date: March 2016

Copyright © 2016 University of Stellenbosch

All rights reserved
Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za

OPSOMMING
Alkohol is ‘n algemene afhanklikheidsvormende middel onder volwassenes en tieners, maar
kom egter die mees algemene voor onder die mans in 'n huishouding. In hierdie studie is die
oorsaak, effekte en gevolge van alkoholmisbruik deur 'n pa van ‘n gesin ondersoek en die
navorser kon bepaal wat die mees algemene faktore is wat kan aanleiding gee tot individuele
alkoholmisbruik deur die vader asook hoe hierdie verskynsel die gesin in die algemeen kan
affekteer.

In hierdie betrokke studie is onderhoude met met 20 maatskaplike werkers in die Wes-Kaap
gevoer. Hierdie maatskaplike werkers het ondervinding van dienslewering binne die veld van
alkoholmisbruik, maar veral ook van dienslewering aan gesinne waar die ouers van alkohol
misbruik maak. Hierdie maatskaplike werkers is ook ervare ten opsigte van die algemene
effekte wat alkoholmisbruik deur ‘n ouer op die gesin het.

‘n Kombinasie van die kwalitatiewe - en kwantitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is in hierdie
studie benut. 'n Kombinasie van die verkennende - en beskrywende navorsingsontwerp is verder
gebruik en het gedien as raamwerk vir die implementering van die navorsingsbenadering.

'n Doelgerigte steekproef van twintig maatskaplike werkers is saamgestel en data is ingesamel
deur middel van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude nadat ‘n loodsstudie geïmplementeer is om
eerstens die metingsinstrument op slegs een maatskaplike werker te toets en die nodige
wysigings aan te bring waar nodig.

Twee literatuurstudies word in hierdie studie aangebied. Hierdie literatuurstudies fokus op die
voorkoms en aard van alkoholmisbruik deur vaders in gesinne en spesifiek hoe hierdie
alkoholmisbruik die funksionering van gesinne raak met die klem op alkoholmisbruik deur die
vader soos deur die sisteemteoretiese perspektief aangedui. Die doel van hierdie twee
literatuurstudies soos in hoofstukke twee en drie opgeteken, was om die eerste twee doelwitte
van die studie te bereik, wat handel oor die begrip vir en die beskrywing van alkoholmisbruik
deur ʼn pa, asook die impak van hierdie gedrag op die maatskaplike funksionering van die
nukleêre gesin.
Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za

Hoofstuk vier is 'n aanbieding van die empiriese studie. Data wat ingesamel is, is aangebied en
ontleed in ooreenstemming met die literatuurstudie. Data is voorts geanaliseer deur ‘n
kwalitatiewe analise en aangebied volgens geïdentifiseerde temas, subtemas en kategorieë.
Relevante tabelle, figure en deelnemerbeskrywings is benut om die ontleding van data te staaf.

Hoofstuk vyf bied 'n oorsig van die gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings in terme van die
bevindinge van hierdie studie soos gebaseer op die menings van maatskaplike werkers oor die
sosiale funksionering van 'n gesin waar alkohol deur die vaderfiguur misbruik word.
Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za

SUMMARY
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.
Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za

Chapter five gives an overview of conclusions and recommendations, in terms of the views of
social workers on the social functioning of a family where alcohol abuse of a father is present,
in light of the empirical study and data analysis.
Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First and foremost all thanks to God for giving me the opportunity to further my studies and for
providing the time and strength needed in order to complete this research study.

In full gratitude I acknowledge the following individuals who encouraged, inspired, supported,
assisted, and sacrificed themselves to help my pursuit of a high education degree:

 Dr I Slabbert for her positive and constructive responses to my emails at all times, and
for editing relentlessly, and leading me towards the smart path;

 Dr H von Schlicht for undertaking the technical care of this document so efficiently;

 My close family - my father, mother and my sister for supporting me emotionally and
mentally when necessary and during many moments of doubt;

 My extended family members, my dear friend, Leonie van der Berg, my
colleague/friend, Jaendri Smith and all my friends in Shofar Wellington for supporting
me.

Without this support, encouragement, and dedication to assist me, this study would not have
been possible.

Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm
you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za
i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE FUNCTIONING OF NUCLEAR FAMILIES AFFECTED BY
ALCOHOL ABUSE OF A FATHER: THE VIEWS OF SOCIAL
WORKERS

Page

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 INTRODUCTION AND MOTIVATION TO THE STUDY 1
1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT AND FOCUS 6
1.3 GOAL FORMULATION 7
1.3.1 Goal 8
1.3.2 Objectives 8
1.4 THEORETICAL POINT OF DEPARTURE 8
1.5 KEY CONCEPTS 9
1.5.1 Alcohol Abuse 9
1.5.2 Alcoholic 10
1.5.3 Nuclear Family 10
1.5.4 Family 11
1.5.5 System 12
1.5.6 Social worker 12
1.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 13
1.6.1 Literature review 13
1.6.2 Research Approach 13
1.6.3 Research Design 14
1.6.4 Research population and sample 16
1.6.5 Data Collection instrument 17
1.6.6 Pilot Study 19
1.6.7 Data Analysis 19
1.6.7.1 Tesch’s generic steps to analyse data 20
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ii

Page
1.6.7.2 Methods of data verification 21
1.6.7.2.1 Credibility 21
1.6.7.2.2 Transferability 21
1.6.7.2.3 Dependability 22
1.7 ETHICAL CONSIDERATION 22
1.7.1 Researcher integrity 23
1.7.2 Informed consent 23
1.7.3 Avoiding harm 23
1.7.4 Confidentiality and anonymity 24
1.8 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY 24
1.9 CHAPTER LAYOUT 25

CHAPTER 2: THE PREVALENCE AND NATURE OF ALCOHOL ABUSE OF
FATHERS IN NUCLEAR FAMILIES 26

2.1 INTRODUCTION 26
2.2 A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE HISTORY OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE 26
2.2.1 Classifications of drugs 28
2.2.1.1 Depressants 29
2.2.1.2 Stimulants 30
2.2.1.3 Opioids 30
2.2.1.4 Hallucinogens 31
2.2.1.5 Cannabis 31
2.2.1.6 Inhalants and Volatile Substances 31
2.3 FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO ALCOHOL ABUSE 32
2.3.1 Genetic Factors 33
2.3.2 Environmental Factors 34
2.3.3 Psychological Factors 35
2.3.3.1 Stress 36
2.3.3.2 Self-esteem 36
2.3.3.3 Mood enhancements 36