title: Stress-coping morbidity among family members of addiction patients in Singapore.
abstract: INTRODUCTIONS AND AIMS: Research from western countries indicates that family members of addiction patients report heightened stress and psychological morbidity. This current study aimed to examine stress, coping behaviours, related morbidity and subsequent resource utilisation among family members of patients attending a national treatment program in Singapore.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study used a matched case-control design. One hundred family members of addiction patients attending treatment and 100 matched controls completed a semi-structured interview with a researcher. This included the Beck Depression Inventory-II, Short-Form Health Survey-36, General Health Questionnaire-28, Perceived Stress Scale, Family Member Impact Scale and Coping Questionnaire, and also assessed service utilisation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  T-tests revealed significantly greater depression, stress and psychiatric morbidity and poorer overall well-being (Short-Form Health Survey-36) among family members compared with controls. Despite the apparent negative impact on mental health, their physical morbidity did not differ from controls and services utilisation was low. Tolerant-inactive coping was found to be most strongly correlated with psychological well-being. Multivariate analysis indicated that perceived stress was the strongest predictor of overall strain (General Health Questionnaire), but this was not moderated by coping style.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subjective appraisal of stress and coping responses are essential factors affecting the morbidity of family members. Family members demonstrated a need and willingness to engage in formal treatment/counselling for their own problems that were attributed to living with an addiction patient. This provides an opportunity for stress management and brief interventions to modify coping styles, thereby minimizing the potential negative mental health impact on family members.
authors: National Addictions Management Service (NAMS), Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Singapore.
authors: Kae Meng Thomas
authors: KM
authors: Lee
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Manning
authors: Hui Chin
authors: HC
authors: Teoh
authors: Munidasa
authors: M
authors: Winslow
authors: Arthur
authors: A
authors: Lee
authors: Mythily
authors: M
authors: Subramaniam
authors: Song
authors: S
authors: Guo
authors: Kim Eng
authors: KE
authors: Wong
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D009017:Morbidity; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012846:Singapore; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation