Adult Attachment in Children Raised by Parents with Schizophrenia

Abstract

Maternal schizophrenia is known to have an adverse effect on the quality of mother-infant interaction; and children of parents with severe mental illness run a higher risk of poor mental health and social outcomes. Hence, children raised by a parent with schizophrenia may be less likely to attain secure attachment, although there is less evidence so far to support this. Moreover, there is a lack of research in this field that focusses on the needs and experiences, the strengths and vulnerabilities, of the children themselves. Qualitative methods are thus needed to generate new insights and hypotheses. The present study uses semi-structured interviews with 23 adults who, as children, were raised with a parent who experienced schizophrenia. This reveals a range of attachment problems, resulting in difficulties in forming secure adult relationships. Problems with trust and intimacy were found to be common.

A qualitative meta‐synthesis of adult children of parents with a mental illness

“…She was just somebody who was always just there but she had never had anything to do with me.’ She continues to suggest that ‘I never got to know her as a person. I never had a mother, so that’s really about the saddest bit’ (Duncan & Browning 2009, p. 80). This theme of absence was identified by another participant in the study by Duncan and Browning (2009, p. 81) who makes reference to his mother being ‘in another world and you couldn’t get through to her.…”

“…I never had a mother, so that’s really about the saddest bit’ (Duncan & Browning 2009, p. 80). This theme of absence was identified by another participant in the study by Duncan and Browning (2009, p. 81) who makes reference to his mother being ‘in another world and you couldn’t get through to her. In a sense you don’t have a mother.’ Additionally, another person highlighted ‘it was living hell at home.…”

“…Childhood feelings of isolation and lack of support from outside the family unit was prominent in the studies. In the study by Duncan and Browning (2009), no participant was able to recall any ‘effective social support during their childhood’ (p. 81). This theme has been reinforced by Knutsson‐Medin et al.…”

“…One man who had sustained a marital relationship for several years made reference to the notion that he has ‘constant underlying mistrust of people’ (Duncan & Browning 2009, p. 81). A woman acknowledged that she had chosen not to engage in a further intimate relationship since her marriage ended 10 years prior to the study: ‘I just still feel very untrusting of what their agendas are’ (Duncan & Browning 2009, p. 82). Interestingly, the concept of ‘trust’ of her own choices emerged when referring to her perceptions of her ability to choose an appropriate partner.…”

Children's experiences of parental mental illness: a literature review

“…In both, adults depict childhood memories of frightening, embarrassing and passive or preoccupied parental behaviour. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] Some accounts describe the trauma of being separated from the parent, whereas most describe frequent disruptions to everyday life. Many recall having had persistent feelings of fear, anger, abandonment, isolation, guilt and shame.…”