Joyce, Kayla M and Delaquis, Chantal P and Alsaidi, Tia and Sulymka, Julia and Conway, Alexandra and Garcia, Juanita and Paton, Allyson and Kelly, Lauren E and Roos, Leslie E (2025) Treatment for substance use disorder in mothers of young children: a systematic review of maternal substance use and child mental health outcomes. Addictive Behaviors, 163, 108241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108241.
External website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/...
Substance use disorders (SUD) in mothers of young children can negatively impact the family unit and promote the intergenerational cycle of mental health disorders. This systematic review aims to: 1) provide an overview of substance use treatments for mothers of young children (from birth to 5 years old); 2) synthesize findings on maternal substance use and child/maternal mental health outcomes; and 3) identify key treatment components. Database searches in Medline, PsycINFO, PubMED, and PsycARTICLES were conducted on May 7th, 2024. A total of 14, 916 articles were identified following duplicate removal. Articles were screened following PRISMA guidelines. Eight articles (n = 900) met inclusion criteria. Outcomes of interest included maternal substance use, child/maternal mental health, and treatment components. All studies indicated maternal substance use treatments were at least as, or more, effective in improving maternal substance use and child/maternal mental health outcomes compared to controls. Treatment components included: mother/family mental health, basic needs, parenting skills, occupation/education, operant conditioning, crisis management, and medical education. Operant conditioning was the only treatment component which appeared to positively impact maternal substance use outcomes; no other treatment components were associated with outcomes of interest. This review provides preliminary evidence highlighting the benefits of substance use treatments for mothers of young children on substance use and mental health outcomes. Future randomized controlled trials with harmonized outcome measures and qualitative data that identifies treatment needs of mothers with lived experience are crucial to evaluate maternal substance use treatments and improve treatment development.
G Health and disease > Substance use disorder (addiction)
HJ Treatment or recovery method > Psychosocial treatment method > Family or marital therapy
HJ Treatment or recovery method > Treatment outcome
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Treatment and maintenance > Treatment factors
L Social psychology and related concepts > Family > Family and kinship > Family relations > Parent – child relations
L Social psychology and related concepts > Family > Family and kinship > Family and substance use > Substance related family problems
T Demographic characteristics > Child / children
T Demographic characteristics > Affected family members / concerned persons
T Demographic characteristics > Child of person who uses substances
VA Geographic area > International
Repository Staff Only: item control page