title: Prevalence and frequency of problems of concerned family members with a substance-using loved one.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Limited research has examined the prevalence and frequency of specific problems of concerned family members and significant others (CSOs) of alcohol- or substance-using individuals (SUIs).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We surveyed CSOs of SUIs to determine the prevalence and frequency of their problems and explored whether relationship to the SUI, gender of the CSO, or living arrangements altered problem prevalence and frequency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-substance-using CSOs (n=110) completed the Significant Other Survey, which asks about problems in seven domains (emotional; family; relationship; financial; health; violence; legal). Problem outcomes were compared based on the CSO's relationship to the SUI (partner or spouse vs. parent), gender of the CSO (male vs. female), and living arrangements of the CSO and the SUI (residing together vs. residing apart).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Problems were prevalent with at least two-thirds of the participants endorsing one or more problems in all but the legal domain. They also occurred frequently, with CSOs reporting problems on one-third to one-half of the past 30 days, in all but the violence and legal domains. Problems tended to be greater for CSOs who were partners, females, or living with the SUI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CSOs experience frequent problems in a wide range of life domains and the types of difficulties they experience appear to differ based on type of relationship, gender, and their living arrangement relative to the SUI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This investigation expands our understanding of the specific problems that CSOs face. The findings have important implications for treatment and health policy regarding these individuals.
authors.affiliation: Treatment Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3414, USA. lbenishek@tresearch.org
authors.forename: Lois A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Benishek
authors.forename: Kimberly C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.forename: Karen Leggett
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Dugosh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data