Coping Styles and Alcohol Dependence among Homeless People

Abstract

Background and ObjectivesThe ways in which homeless individuals cope with stress may differ from those relied upon by the members of the general population and these differences may either be the result or the cause of their living conditions. The aim of the study was to determine the preferred coping style among the homeless and its relationship with alcohol dependence.MethodsThe study included 78 homeless individuals and involved the collection of demographic, sociological, psychological and medical data from each participant. Coping styles relied upon when dealing with stressful situations were assessed using a Polish adaptation of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations. Alcohol dependence was assessed using the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) and a quantitative analysis of alcohol consumption.ResultsMen accounted for 91.93% of the study population. Nearly 75% of the subjects met the alcohol dependence criterion. Significant relationships were observed between the individual's age, preferred coping style and alcohol consumption level. As an individual’s age increased, the use of emotion-oriented coping styles decreased, while an increase in alcohol consumption was associated with a more frequent use of emotion- and avoidance-oriented strategies.ConclusionsThe findings of this study, similarly to those of many other studies of homeless individuals but investigating other areas (e.g. epidemiology of tuberculosis and traumatic injuries), are an exaggerated representation of associations observed in the general population. The results describe a group of people living on the margins of the society, often suffering from extremely advanced alcoholism, with clear evident psychodegradation. The presence of specific ways of coping with stress related to excessive alcohol consumption in this group of individuals may interfere with active participation in support programmes provided for the homeless and may further exacerbate their problems.

Psychopathological symptoms, defense mechanisms and time perspectives among subjects with alcohol dependence (AD) presenting different patterns of coping with stress

“…The problem of coping with stress seems to be important in the context of the development and persistence of alcohol dependence (AD) 1 1 As the study’s participants were assessed in accordance with ICD-10 alcohol dependence syndrome criteria, the term “alcohol dependence” will be used throughout the article; the equivalent of this term in the DSM 5 classification is “alcohol dependences (AD)”. and has long been raised in the literature on the subject ( Opalach et al, 2016 ). Resorting to psychoactive substances in itself can be construed as an avoidant coping strategy ( Woodhead et al, 2014 ; Mccormick et al, 1998 ).…”

Problematic alcohol consumption in homeless Australians: A narrative review of the causes, barriers to receiving help and possible solutions

“…Homeless people with PAC have been found to have high rates of avoidance and emotion‐oriented stress responses . Given the previously discussed relationship between stress and PAC in homeless persons, improving coping strategies may reduce PAC.…”

Alcohol Use Among Homeless Men in Tehran, Iran: Risk and Protective Factors

“…This high prevalence of self-reported alcohol use was similar to what reported in studies implemented in other countries. A study in Poland found that 75% of homeless people in Olsztyn were dependent on alcohol (9). Another study in Madrid reported that 59% of homeless men consumed excessive alcohol at some point in their lives (18).…”

“…Homeless individuals who use alcohol and drug constitute one of the most marginalized groups in Iran (5). They are considered a high-risk population for mental health issues and alcohol consumption and substance abuse are common among them (7)(8)(9)(10). In a meta-analysis conducted by Fazel et al 29 studies with 5,684 homeless individuals were considered.…”