Perceived stress, marital satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction in spouses of males having bipolar disorder with and without alcohol use disorder: A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Background:Bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are frequently comorbid and affect the social, occupational, and personal domains of patients and their spouses.Aim:This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess and compare the levels of stress, marital satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction between the spouses of males with BPAD + AUD and of those without AUD.Materials and Methods:Spouses of 100 males with diagnosed BPAD, currently in remission, including fifty patients having comorbid AUD, were recruited as participants. Participants were assessed with Perceived Stress Scale-10, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and Sexuality Scale.Statistical Analysis:Descriptive statistics, Chi-square, t-test, analysis of variance, and correlation on SPSS were used for statistical analysis.Results:More stress (59%), poorer marital (53%) and sexual satisfaction (89%) were found in the majority participants, with significantly higher stress in the group with husbands having both BPAD + AUD (P < 0.01). Duration of cohabitation had a direct, and education and family income had inverse relations with stress.Conclusions:BPAD worsens stress, marital satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction in the study participants, the stress increasing further with comorbid AUD. Education, family income, and duration of cohabitation have a significant bearing on stress.