Predictors of Dyadic Relationship Quality of Women in Substance Abuse Treatment

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives: The quality of relationship between family caregivers and care recipients with dual disorders can impact care recipients' well-being and treatment outcomes as well as caregivers' well-being and involvement in care. This paper examines the impact of caregiver stressors and well-being on relationship quality of family caregivers of women with substance use disorders or co-occurring substance and mental disorders. Methods: Eighty-two women receiving in-patient or out-patient substance abuse treatment and the family member/significant other, nominated by each woman, who provided her with the most social support, were interviewed in this nonexperimental cross-sectional study. A stress-coping model was utilized to identify the impact of family caregivers' stressors (care recipient behavioral, substance abuse, and mental health problems) and caregiver well-being (burden and depressive symptomatology) on caregivers' perceptions of the quality of their relationship with their care recipient. Results: Findings from multiple regression analyses, across four types of caregiver well-being, show that greater perceived support to the caregiver was predicted by fewer perceived care recipient substance abuse problems, whereas higher levels of undermining of the caregiver was predicted by greater care recipient behavioral problems and by the family caregiver being a significant other of the care recipient. Care recipient classification as having a current dual disorder as compared to a current substance use disorder only was not a significant predictor of perceived support given to the caregiver or of perceived undermining of the family member. Conclusions: The findings suggest interventions for family caregivers need to be tailored to address different and possibly multiple groups of caregivers, specific types of stressors, and care recipient behavioral problems.