Lost childhood: lived experiences of growing up with a parent with addiction

Growing up with a parent struggling with addiction, one of the most common adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), affects numerous children in Hungary due to the significant prevalence of problematic alcohol use. Children raised in such families are at high risk of developing physical and mental illnesses as well as behavioural problems. It is therefore essential to examine the lived experiences of these children, as understanding these experiences is necessary for designing appropriate interventions aimed at protecting children and supporting families affected by parental addiction. The present study aimed to explore the childhood experiences of individuals who grew up with a parent struggling with addiction and to examine how these experiences influence adulthood. We recruited 78 adult participants for the study (mean age = 45 years, range = 24–69 years), all of whom had grown up with one or both parents struggling with addiction. During data collection, participants completed an anonymous written interview consisting of open-ended questions about their childhood experiences, their relationship with their parent(s), and the presence of addiction within the family. The written accounts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The analysis resulted in three main themes: “The Feeling of the Elephant in the Room,” “Uncertain Parent Image,” and “Lost Childhood.” The findings highlight the long-term emotional and relational consequences of growing up with parental addiction, including experiences of emotional neglect, parentification, secrecy, and loss. The study underscores the importance of trauma-informed, family-focused, and grief-sensitive interventions for children and adults affected by parental addiction