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Mothering on crack cocaine: A grounded theory analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Kearney, Margaret H.
  • Murphy, Sheigla
  • Rosenbaum, Marsha

Abstract

Mothers who use crack cocaine are commonly believed to be selfish, uncaring, and neglectful of their children. For this paper, the grounded theory method was used to analyze 68 semi-structured depth interviews with cocaine-using mothers. These women's views of motherhood, the strategies they used to manage mothering on cocaine, and the contextual influences on mothering outcomes were explored. Contrary to popular assumptions, the women highly valued motherhood and held firm standards for childrearing. Mothers were concerned about the possible risks to their children and used a process of defensive compensation to protect both their children and their maternal identities from the negative influences of crack cocaine. When unable to fulfil their maternal responsibilities by other means, some mothers placed their children with family members, and others lost custody involuntarily. When children were forcibly removed, mothers often increased their drug use to cope with the loss. Social and economic conditions influenced the outcomes of mothering on crack.

Suggested Citation

  • Kearney, Margaret H. & Murphy, Sheigla & Rosenbaum, Marsha, 1994. "Mothering on crack cocaine: A grounded theory analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 351-361, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:38:y:1994:i:2:p:351-361
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Haight, Wendy L. & Carter-Black, Janet D. & Sheridan, Kathryn, 2009. "Mothers' experience of methamphetamine addiction: A case-based analysis of rural, midwestern women," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 71-77, January.
    2. Rhodes, Tim & Bernays, Sarah & Houmoller, Kathrin, 2010. "Parents who use drugs: Accounting for damage and its limitation," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(8), pages 1489-1497, October.
    3. Haight, Wendy & Ostler, Teresa & Black, James & Sheridan, Kathryn & Kingery, Linda, 2007. "A child's-eye view of parent methamphetamine abuse: Implications for helping foster families to succeed," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 1-15, January.
    4. Owczarzak, Jill & Kazi, Asiya K. & Mazhnaya, Alyona & Alpatova, Polina & Zub, Tatyana & Filippova, Olga & Phillips, Sarah D., 2021. "“You're nobody without a piece of paper:” visibility, the state, and access to services among women who use drugs in Ukraine," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    5. Haight, Wendy & Jacobsen, Teresa & Black, James & Kingery, Linda & Sheridan, Kathryn & Mulder, Cray, 2005. ""In these bleak days": Parent methamphetamine abuse and child welfare in the rural Midwest," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(8), pages 949-971, August.
    6. Long, Tracy & Sque, Magi & Addington-Hall, Julia, 2008. "Conflict rationalisation: How family members cope with a diagnosis of brain stem death," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(2), pages 253-261, July.

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