The relation of sensory processing on occupational performance, behaviour, and emotions has been described in the literature, but little has been written about how it impacts parenting roles, let alone the effect in substance-dependent parents. This study's purpose was to understand more clearly 1) the level of sensory processing problems substance abusing parents may have, and 2)  what is the relationship between the parents' sensory profile and emotion regulation? The participants were 30 parents aged 18 to 54 in the Hold On® program for substance-dependent parents and their children. The participants answered three self-measures, that is, Sensory processing and emotion regulation. Results indicated that the participant's sensory profiles were more on the extreme ends of the scale than the reference population's standardised scores. Sensory processing problems were associated with difficulties in emotion regulation. Further investigation of the relationship between sensory sensitiveness, emotion regulation, and their impact on parenting is recommended. Exploration of both parents' and child's sensory profiles is also recommended.

Keywords: adverse childhood experience, co-occupation, emotion regulation, parenting, sensory profile