Date of Award

5-2026

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Departmental Honors

Department

Human Development and Family Studies

Abstract

Adult children of parents with addiction often grow up having to navigate emotional instability, inconsistent caregiving, and long-term relational impacts that continue into adulthood. Many individuals report limited access to supportive care and spaces where they can share their stories. This capstone project addresses the gap by designing and facilitating a support group specifically for adult children of parents to build connection and healing. Through this qualitative study, participant feedback, and analysis, this project examines how structured peer support can create meaningful change for this population. The following paper outlines the development of the group, the theoretical foundations that guided it, the methods used to show its impact, and the key insights from the participants' experience.

The purpose of this capstone project is to design and evaluate a structured support group for adult children of parents with an addiction. The goal is to create a safe environment for connection, emotional processing, and shared understanding. This project seeks to explore how guided peer support can foster resilience, reduce feelings of isolation, and promote healthier coping mechanisms. Through qualitative feedback and thematic analysis, this capstone aims to identify the specific elements of group support that the participants find the most meaningful and contribute to a better understanding of how community intervention can address the impacts of growing up with addiction in the family system.

Download

Share

COinS

Copyright for this work is retained by the student. If you have any questions regarding the inclusion of this work in the Digital Commons, please email us at .

 

Faculty Mentor

Spencer Bradshaw

Departmental Honors Advisor

Robert Stawski