Author 1/Almberg, M. & Author 2/ Lövendahl, S.Supervisor: Johan NordgrenAssessor: Mats HögströmTitle: How was it? Experiences of growing up with addictive parents [Hur var det? Erfarenheter av att växa upp med missbrukande föräldrar].Degree project in Social studies, 15/30 credits. Malmö University: Faculty of Health and Society, Department of Social work, 2023.

The aim of this study was to analyze living conditions of children growing up with parents with substance abuse problems, by reading seven autobiographies written by adult children and examining research on this subject. Using conventional content analysis as a method, we especially wanted to look at the similarities and differences between different authors way of describing theirchildhood, depending on backgrounds and social status.

This study identified four themes in the autobiographies: Exposure, Positioned, Closeness and Distance and Strategies. These themes were present in all seven books and it is from them the theories were chosen to better understand them. The theories being Family System Theory, a version of General System Theory, Attachment Theory and theories about Resilience and Coping Strategies.

We found that more recent research on the subject of children with parents struggling with abuse, aim to change the historical portrait of passive victims in need of protection, instead of understanding these children's expressions ofagency. This study has therefore attempted to do the same and from this perspective get a wider understanding of different ways professionals within the field of social work can identify, approach and be of help to children growing up around problems with abuse.

Keywords: Autobiographies, Childhood, Abuse, Coping, Agency.