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Differences between alcoholics and spouses in their perceptions of family functioning
J R McKay1, S A Maisto, M C Beattie
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Alcoholic patients and their significant others agreed on some family functioning aspects but disagreed significantly on behavior control and affective involvement, highlighting key areas for alcoholic family therapy.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Family Studies
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Alcoholism significantly impacts family dynamics and household functioning.
- Understanding differing perceptions within alcoholic families is crucial for effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate discrepancies in perceived family functioning between alcoholic patients and their significant others.
- To identify specific areas of agreement and disagreement in family dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Family Assessment Device (FAD) to evaluate family functioning.
- Collected data from 80 pairs of alcoholic patients (PTs) and their spouses or equivalents (SOs).
Main Results:
- Moderate agreement was found on Affective Responsiveness, Communication, Problem Solving, Roles, and General Functioning scales.
- Little to no agreement was observed on Behavior Control and Affective Involvement scales.
Conclusions:
- Alcoholic families may share views on collaboration and emotional expression but differ on boundary management.
- These findings suggest targeted interventions for behavior control and affective involvement are needed in treating alcoholic families.