Depression, anxiety, and stress from substance-use disorder among family members in Iceland

Abstract

Aims: This research was designed to explore the extent to which the use of alcohol or drugs by one member of a family affects the psychosocial state of other family members. The study asks whether family members of substance abusers are more likely to report increased depression, anxiety and stress then the general population in Iceland? Are there significant differences between family members; e.g., spouses, parents, adult children and siblings by gender, age, education and income? Data and methods: The instrument used for this purpose is the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS), which is designed to measure those three related mental states. It was administered to 143 participants (111 women and 32 men) with ages ranging from 19-70 years on the first day of a four-week group therapy programme for relatives of substance use disorder (SUD) at The Icelandic National Centre for Addiction Treatment (SÁ Á) from August 2015 to April 2016. Thirty participants are adult children of a parent with SUD, 47 are a spouse, 56 are parents of a child with SUD and 10 are siblings. The subscales of the DASS for depression, anxiety, and stress were utilised to examine which family member-parent, child, partner, or sibling-presented the behaviour associated with SUD. Results: 36% or more of the respondents in all three subscales

Communication and Cohesion among Family Members of Individuals with Substance Use Disorder in Iceland with a Focus on Adult Children of Addicts

“…Those with a poor ability to distinguish between emotions and reasoning have a limited capacity to think critically. This can therefore lead to their emotional reactions and decisions being governed by stress responses [6,19,20]. Furthermore, this data supports the quantitative study carried out to evaluate the levels of satisfaction reported by adult children of dependent substance users in their couple relationships and roles as parents.…”

“…In a marriage or couple relationship individuals' distress can manifest itself in negative emotions such as anxiety or anger, which can result in avoiding difficult situations, such as intimacy and communication in a couple's relationship [4,6,7]. Research carried out in 2014 using the FACES IV self-evaluation scale and the FSS and FCS scales showed similar results.…”

“…The family's unwritten rules are not to talk about it and not to say anything that might provoke the substance user, where they might fly off the handle and so use more alcohol or other drugs. This unhealthy pattern can reduce the quality of life for individual family members right through to adulthood and can prevent normal emotional connections, intimacy and communication in their interactions with others [6,17].…”

“…The relation between intimacy and communication in couples' relationships gives a certain indication of family contentment and cohesion [4,5]. Also, studies have shown that if there is little trust and a lack of emotional intimacy in a couple's relationship, it is more likely that spouses and children in the family will experience anxiety and less contentment in the family [5,6]. This research measures family cohesion and communication/relations in families where a family member has a SUD.…”

Social causes of depression, anxiety and stress

“…In relation to other indicators the ambiance of a family has shown to have the most weight and impact on an individual’s depression, anxiety and stress levels. These are all circumstances that are highlighted in a contribution by Olafsdottir (2018) from Iceland in this issue of NAD . The study contributes to our understanding of the mental wellbeing of family members living with SUD (substance-use disorders).…”