Lien fraternel et processus de mentalisation chez l’enfant de parent alcoolodépendant

Abstract

This study is entitled ‘The sibling bond and the mentalization process in children of alcohol- dependent parents’. The parent's alcohol dependence leads to dysfunction in the family system, which in turn leads the child to co-dependence and very often parentification. This child is also exposed to various forms of abuse leading to early relational trauma. The child is therefore defenseless, developing in an environment that is not very containing or structuring, and does not encourage the development of the capacity to mentalise. And yet, the great psychological suffering they face requires them to work out their thoughts. This is why it is important to question the work of mentalization in this child. The problem addressed in this study is the contribution of the sibling bond to the mentalization process in children of alcohol-dependent parents. The research question developed from this problem is: How does the sibling bond contribute to the mentalization process in the child of an alcohol-dependent parent? To answer this question, we formulated the following hypothesis: Because of its action on the mechanisms of empathy and identification with the developmental tutor, the sibling bond contributes to the mentalization process in the child of an alcohol-dependent parent. Our aim is therefore to understand the mentalization process in children of alcohol-dependent parents through the sibling bond. To do this, we used the clinical method. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and projective tests with three children of alcohol-dependent parents at the HCY. The data were subjected to thematic content analysis. The results show that the family environment of children of alcohol-dependent parents is violent and abusive, causing significant psychological suffering. These results were interpreted on the basis of the Meynckens-Fourez (2004) theory of the sibling bond and discussed in the light of previous work, in particular that of de Tamian (2019), Michaud (2001) and Sedlak et al. (2010). This lends clinical relevance to our initial hypothesis.