title: Interpersonal dependency, self-esteem and depression in primary alcoholism.
abstract: This study was undertaken to clarify the relationship between alcoholism and depression by means of the personality traits interpersonal dependency and self-esteem. In a sample of 52 alcoholics that met Feighner's criteria for primary alcoholism, the subjects were assessed by means of the Zung Depression Self-rating Scale, the Hirschfeld Interpersonal Dependency Scale and the 23-item version of the Janis & Field Self-esteem Scale by Rimée & Leyens. By means of the score on the Zung scale the subjects were divided into depressive vs. non-depressive alcoholics. There were no intergroup differences in interpersonal dependency. However, the depressive alcoholics scored significantly lower on the self-esteem scale. The authors suggest that the level of self-esteem in alcoholics is a function of secondary depression, whereas the interpersonal dependency might be influenced by the pathological drinking pattern.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Hospital, Jebel, Romania.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vrasti
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Enasescu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Poelinca
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Apostol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D003858:Dependency, Psychological; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D012649:Self Concept