The Role of Spouses of Substance Abusers in Treatment: Gender Differences

Abstract

Studies exploring gender differences among substance abusers in treatment have been fairly consistent in finding that females who enter treatment express more severe psychological and psychosocial disturbances than males, despite presenting with shorter and less intense substance abuse histories. However, strands of evidence suggest that the presence of a spouse, generally perceived as an asset in the treatment of the substance abuser, may have different implications for females than for males. In order to clarify this issue, 67 male and 18 female married substance abusers in treatment and their spouses were questioned on their substance use and psychological and social functioning. Similar to other studies, the female substance abusers reported greater disturbance on dimensions of employment and psychological functioning, but less severity of alcohol abuse. Comparison of male and female spouses, however, revealed that male spouses were likely to present with the following characteristics: (1) more symptoms of substance abuse and depression, (2) less overall physical well-being, and (3) to be less inclined to help others or be involved with their children than the female spouses. These findings are consistent with the view that the process of substance abuse is telescoped in females and is associated with more disturbed functioning in women on admission to treatment than in men. However, contextual differences--specifically in terms of availability of spousal support--may contribute significantly both to the understanding of differences in female versus male substance abusers in treatment as well as to the development of guidelines for adapting treatment based on gender.

The quality of life when a partner has substance use problems: a scoping review

“…Three of the nine included studies were conducted in Australia [ 33 – 35 ]. The remaining studies originated from Canada [ 36 ], New Zealand [ 37 ], the Netherlands [ 30 ], USA [ 8 ], Croatia [ 29 ], and Spain [ 38 ]. The studies were spread over a wide timeframe, with two studies published before 2000 [ 35 , 36 ] and seven published after 2010.…”

“…The majority of the studies aimed to examine the impact of SUPs on close family members, with QoL as one of the primary outcomes. In four of the studies, the participants were recruited when their partner was in treatment [ 29 , 30 , 36 , 38 ], in one study the participants were recruited through newspaper advertisements [ 35 ], and in one study the participants were recruited in mutual aid support groups (Al-Anon Family Groups and FDH, a program of the Self-Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC), both in Australia) [ 34 ].…”

The interplay between interpersonal dynamics, treatment barriers, and larger social forces: an exploratory study of drug-using couples in Hartford, CT

“…While there are a growing number of studies on the gender differences of substance users seeking treatment. [ 20 - 23 ] and in treatment settings [ 24 , 25 ], little attention has been given to the experience and complex treatment needs of drug-using couples.…”

The Community Reinforcement Approach: History and New Directions

“…In fact, statistics showed that the loved ones of individuals who abused alcohol or drugs experienced numerous stressors as a result, including domestic violence, financial problems, marital difficulties, and social embarrassment or isolation (Romijn, Platt, Schippers, & Schaap, 1992;Velleman et al, 1993). Not surprisingly, these CSOs frequently suffered from depression, anxiety, physical illness, and low self-esteem (Brown, Kokin, Seraganian, & Shields, 1995;Spear & Mason, 1991).…”