The Lived Experiences of Adult Children Raised by Police or Fire Service Parent/s

Abstract

Presenting literature regarding the experiences of children in first responder families is limited. The existing body of research primarily focuses on the challenges faced by first responders themselves, often neglecting the experiences of family members who are positively or negatively impacted by their relative’s role as a firefighter or a police officer. Furthermore, the literature lacks providing a holistic perspective on the lives of children raised by firefighters or police officers, particularly regarding how their police or fire service shaped their upbringing parent/s profession. This qualitative study utilized an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach to explore the lives of adult children raised by police or fire service members from their perspectives.

Grounded in the conceptual framework of Bowen’s Family System Theory, this study aimed to uncover the lived experiences of those adult children and to examine the psychological well-being of these children within the context of their parent’s profession. To better address the research question, data were collected via semi-structured interviews, which were audio and video recorded and supplemented by notetaking during the interviews. Four themes emerged from the research data: Family Dynamics and Emotional Distance, Coping Mechanisms and Emotional Resilience, Identity Formation and Career Aspirations, and Interpersonal Relationships and Emotional Systems.