role inversion. This is a psychological process in which a child or adolescent is forced to take on roles and areas of responsibility that usually belong to parents and other adult family members. The child becomes a “parent” or “guardian” for his parents or other family members, which disrupts the natural dynamics of family roles. There are 2 types of parentification:
1) Emotional parentification – the child becomes a psychological support for parents, takes on the functions of support and consolation;
2) Instrumental parentification – the child performs practical tasks that parents should perform.