PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS IN WIVES OF ADULTS WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEM
Abstract
Objective:The present study aimed at examining psychological problems in wives of adults with substance abuse problem in comparison to wives of adults with no substance abuse problem. It was hypothesized that there would be a significant difference among wives of substance abusers and non-substance abusers men on the variables of somatic complaints, anxiety, social dysfunction, depression, anger and hostility.
Place and duration of Study: University of Karachi, Karachi-Pakistan, from Dec 2010 to April 2011
Research design: Comparative study
Method: For the present study, forty wives (N=40) of adult with substance abuse problems were approached through two prominent drug rehabilitation centers, New Horizons Care Centre(NHCC) and Benazeer Bhutoo Shaheed, Model of Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre (MATRC) where their husbands were admitted for treatment. Comparative group consisted of forty (N=40) wives whose husbands were not taking any kind of substance. They were selected from five urban areas of Karachi that is; Nazimabad, Baldia Town, Kemari, Sawat Colony and Itehad Town following purposive sample selection technique. Having consent of participants, information pertaining to demographics was recorded. Then, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and Anger and Hostility, Subscales of Aggression Questionnaire were administered individually. Analysis of results was done via SPSS, Version 12.0 and Statistical Calculator version 3.0 Beta.
Results: Independent sample t-test revealed significant differences among wives of substance abuse and non-substance abuse men on the variables of somatic complaints, anxiety, social dysfunction, depression, anger and hostility. The
Effect size on all variables was found to be large (Cohen’s d ranged from 0.921 to 2.219).
Conclusion: It is concluded that substance abuse problems in men lead to psychological problems in their wives. They suffer from somatic complaints, anxiety, social dysfunction, depression, anger and hostility as compare to wives of men with no substance abuse problems.
