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The Dynamics of Family Relationshipin Adolescent Drug Rehabilitation in a Chinese Context

Timothy SIM, Ph.D.

Department of Social Work

National University of Singapore

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Hong Kong Adolescent Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation

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Aim

To map the impact of family relationship in

adolescent drug rehabilitation

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Research

Question

What are the salient

aspects of family

relationship in

adolescent drug

rehabilitation?

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Theoretical Framework

Family systems theory:

Structural Family Therapy

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Research Paradigm

Postpositivistic

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Multiple Methods

Integrating ‘outside’ and ‘inside’ perspective

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Data AnalysisFamily as a unit

Comparison of means Content analysis

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Limitations Small and Convenient SampleUnclear Direction of Causality

Lack Process and Observation Measures

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Participants Characteristics

34 families91 participants

34 adolescents32 mothers25 fathers

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Participants Characteristics

Male adolescents19 years old, single

completed 9 years of educationlived with their parents

in public and aided/rental flats

Three quarters of the adolescents abstained

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Participants Characteristics

Mothers 45 years old

work in manual jobs full-time homemakers.

Fathers 49, mostly hold manual jobs.

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Summary of Findings

Four salient aspects

positive emotional regardnegative interaction positive interaction

negative emotional regard

at both pre-admission &three-month after discharge.

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Summary of Findings

At pre-admission

negative interaction (e.g. conflict)

negative emotional regard (e.g. tension)

particularly between the adolescent and his parents

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Summary of FindingsAt pre-admission

No problemHighly concernCordial HappyLoyal

How dad relates to adolescentHow adolescent relate to sibling

Not fond ofQuarrelsomeUnmotivated

FirmPoor

How mom relates to dad

How mom relates to adolescentHow mom relates to sibling

How dad relates to sibling

Very goodGiving inWith special effortNot quarrelsomeEndearing

How dad relates to momHow adolescent relates to mom How adolescent relates to dad

Disloyal Unhappy

TenseUninvolved

Problematic

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Summary of Findings

At three-month after discharge

family relationship of

relapsed adolescents

generally less favorable

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Summary of Findings

Combined inside and outside perspectives

Families with adolescent drug abuse generally poor in overall family functioning at pre-admission

At three-month upon discharge, family functioning consistently improved when adolescents abstained

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Summary of Findings

Surprise Findings

Positive family interaction and positive emotional regard are present along with negative family interaction and negative emotional regard

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Rudimentary Model Positive Interaction (Family Strength)

Positive Emotional

Regard (Family

Strength)

Father-Mother

Group Abstain-No-FTGroup Abstain-With-FT

Quadrant C (Soap opera) Quadrant D (Mime)

Negative Emotional

Regard (Family Stress)

Quadrant A (Suspense Sequel)

Mother-Adolescent

Group A (Pre-Admission)

Quadrant B (Wrestling Game)

Father-Adolescent

Group Relapse-No-FT

Negative Interaction (Family Stress)

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Practice Implication

1. Improve Family Functioning

2. Cope with Family Stress 3. Build Family Strength 4. Engage Parents as

Partners while recognizing the differential roles

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Research Implication

1. A Framework of Strength and Stress without Blame

2. Chinese Family Model in Adolescent Drug Rehabilitation

3. Expansion of Structural Family Therapy Model in Contemporary Chinese Context

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Recommendation

1. Interaction of Family Subsystems

2. Interaction of Family and Other Contextual Domains

3. Integration of Outside and Inside Perspectives

4. Understanding Family Dynamics in Relapse Situations

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Recommendation

5. Implementing Longitudinal Studies

6. Conducting Process Research in Chinese Families

7. Developing Family Typology in Adolescent Drug Rehabilitation

8. Understanding the Individual Functioning in Context

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ReflectionWhen we answer some questions, we raise others. And no matter how well thought out we think our project is at the beginning, there always are those unanticipated twists and turns along the way that lead us to rethink our positions and question our methods and to let us know that we are not as smart as we think we are

(Strauss & Corbin, 1998, p. 55)

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Discussion

Drawings of this presentation were downloaded from http://www.naivedrawing.com/drawingsmyfamily.htm