Excessive drinking and significant others.
This paper sets out to examine the experience of being a significant other by first discussing the existing notions and research traditions of the phenomenon. In the light of survey data it is shown that drinking problems are not only met within the circle of the nuclear family, or between the spouses. This approach presents an alternative perspective to that, which focuses on the relationship between the drinking male and the "co-dependent" female. There are also feelings of responsibility and concern between alcoholics and their close male relatives, colleagues and friends. Comparison between the male and female experience of being a significant other is taken as a goal for further research.
Holmila
M
M
Social Research Institute of Alcohol Studies, POB 350, Fin., 00101, Helsinki, Finland.