Parentification: Boon or Bane?

By : Ayesha Saha

Page No: 289-301

Abstract
Parentification is a role-reversal between the parent and the child wherein the child assumes and fulfils parental roles and responsibilities within their families in times of demanding situations. In healthy families, this process unfurls as a result of situational factors that influences its outcome. Existing literature has explored this process at length in dysfunctional families and has revealed its outcome process more towards the negative light. The present study aimed at exploring the nature of the impact of parentification with regard to self-esteem, resilience and perceived levels of maturity. The data was obtained from 8 adolescents who were screened for the degree of parentification using the Parentification Questionnaire-Youth by Godsall and Jurkovic (1995) before an in-depth, semi-structure interview was conducted. Directed Content Analysis was used to analyze the data. Findings revealed that the degree of perceived fairness of the assigned responsibilities and the ability of the child to balance both situations effectively determined the nature of the impact of parentification. Constructs like self-esteem, resilience and perceived levels of maturity depended largely upon the interplay of past experiences, interrelatedness with the social support system and the ability to effectively deal with stressful situations.

Author :
Ayesha Saha : JRF, Defence Institute of Psychological Research, DRDO, Delhi