A Study to Assess Psychological Distress, Quality of life, and Coping Styles in spouses of Alcoholic persons

Abstract

Background
In today’s world, alcoholism poses a significant global public health concern. Persistent alcohol use not only impacts the individual but also exerts effects on family members. The spouse of alcoholics often experiences significant trauma and stress in their domestic environment, leading to profound psychological problems in them. The spouse’s ability to cope efficiently seems to be affected by the psychological distress and consequently, their overall quality of life is compromised.
Aim
This study aimed to assess the psychological distress, quality of life and coping styles in alcoholic spouses.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was carried out at Rama Medical College, Hospital and Research
Centre, Kanpur among the wives of patients fulfilling the alcohol-dependence criteria as per
ICD-10 DCR guidelines. Patients attending the OPD of the psychiatry department were
recruited serially till the required sample size was reached. The total sample consists of 50
participants. Socio-demographic information was obtained through a semi-structured
questionnaire. Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, WHOQOL-BREF, and Brief COPE were
administered to participants to assess psychological distress, quality of life and coping
mechanisms. Results and Discussion
According to the study, it was found that the majority of the participants had moderate levels
of psychological distress, all 4 domains of quality of life were affected. It was observed that
spouses predominantly leaned towards employing emotion-focused coping strategies, which
encompassed seeking emotional support, acceptance, and turning to religion for solace.