Abstract
M.A. (Clinical Social Work)
Chemical dependence has a negative impact on a family’s ability to maintain a healthy level of functioning and stability. The ecological system’s framework emphasises the significance of a system’s ability to manage and cope with the negative impacts of chemical dependence. Family systems in the face of chemical dependency, engage in various coping strategies in order to manage the impact of stress caused. One way in which the system is able to manage this stress is through the phenomenon of denial. Denial from an ecological system’s perspective is considered a defense mechanism, which is utilised in order to defend from the painful and disturbing realities. The use of denial on a continuous level however, is considered maladaptive and as a result, the family system is no longer able to maintain an optimal level of functioning.
Denial within chemical dependence treatment is a common obstacle that professionals are faced with. The motivation for this research was based on the inconsistency of the understanding of denial within chemical dependence treatment. Therefore, the research aimed to create a descriptive framework of the phenomenon of denial with chemical dependence to better understand the phenomenon, so as to better manage the obstacles such phenomenon presents within treatment settings. The assumption was that denial is the result of a transactional dynamic across system levels, specifically within the micro system between the individual and family members.
The researcher engaged in an in-depth literature review encompassing the topics of denial, the ecological system’s perspective, and chemical dependence, in order to acquire all the relevant knowledge for the study.
The method of research was qualitative in nature in order to explore the phenomenon of denial as understood from the stories of individuals recovering from chemical dependence and a respective family member. The researcher conducted interviews with six pairs of participants, one recovering participant and one respective family member. The analysis of the research findings was guided by a thorough step-by step analytical process. The interviews were transcribed, common themes were identified, coded and then further categorised.
The researcher then identified the categories of denial behaviours, underlying needs and the break in denial. As a result of the findings, the researcher developed a model called the Progression of denial. This model depicted the four levels of denial in which the various denial behaviours and underlying needs are presented within each system level.
First order denial developed on an individual level. This level of denial and the behaviours presented were applicable to the individual engaging in chemical dependency. The second order denial was assigned within the micro system, the immediate family of the chemically-dependent individual. This order of denial was characterised by transactional dynamics between the individual and family members, both exhibiting denial behaviours in order to satisfy their individual needs as well as the system’s attempt to maintain functioning and not confront the realities of the extent of the impact of the chemical dependence.
The third order denial was assigned to the meso-system and was understood as the immediate community of the family system. The family system, in response to the chemical dependency, engaged in denial behaviours in fear of the chemical dependence being exposed and no longer kept a secret.
Fourth order denial was then the break in denial, in which the individuals no longer denied that they had a problem and as a result the need for denial behaviours was no longer needed. The chemical dependence was confronted and participants reported a period of six months in which their lives were chaotic before they went for treatment.
The value of this research is to assist professionals in managing the evident denial that is so commonly associated with chemical dependency; for professionals to gain the criteria required to assess the level of denial at which an individual is struggling with chemical dependence; and whether intervention is needed in more than one system level. In addition the research aims to assist professionals in being able to identify the various denial behaviours that are most prevalent within each system level. Intervention can then possibly be directed at the most appropriate system level in which the professionals are able to assist with identifying the systems maladaptive methods of coping and subsequently direct the systems development towards more constructive adaptive methods. .
The research was conducted within a small sample population and was therefore a specific representation of the six pairs of participants who took part in the research. Ongoing research needs to be conducted to further establish the findings.