Understanding alcohol as an element of ‘care practices’ in adult White British women’s everyday personal relationships: a qualitative study

• DOI: 10.1186/s12905-018-0629-6
• Publication Date: 2018-08-10T11:40:00Z
• Authors: Katherine Jackson; Tracy Finch; Eileen Kaner; Janice McLaughlin
• Keywords: Thematic Analysis

In the last thirty years there has been a rise in harmful alcohol use amongst White British women. Approaches to harm reduction typically position drinking as an individual behaviour, with emphasis on people make changes and by themselves. Moving away from approach, this paper works relational framework develop understanding of non-dependent women's context their everyday lives. It draws Feminist Ethics Care theory, consider importance care lives element 'practices care' different relationships.The study adopted interpretive approach drew feminist principles practice. Qualitative one-to-one face-to-face interviews were undertaken twenty-six women living North East England. Participants aged between 24 67 years. Thematic analysis data was carried out.Participants' relationships came through central way did not feature practices. couple offered doing 'care' together, yet when it used too often no longer became appropriate form care. non-family enabled giving receiving, while disguising that being received. mothers relatively absent practices described. Participants' relationship self, particularly alone, closely related roles responsibilities others.Overall suggests interventions targeting should start are relational. Moreover others is lacking or unavailable, can increasingly be introduced into practices, reproduction these may leading increase heavy drinking. By seeing wider familial non-familial relationships, work important implications for future interventions.