Effect of Al-Anon attendance on family function and quality of life in women in Mashhad, Iran.
BACKGROUND
Al-Anon self-help group is the sole source of assistance for families whose members suffer from alcohol abuse problems in Iran.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of Al-Anon meeting attendance on family function and quality of life of women living with husbands with alcohol use disorders.


METHODS
The study was conducted among two groups of women first time participants in Al-Anon (n = 40) and participants who had attended Al-Anon for at least six months (n = 40) in Mashhad, Iran. Participants were administered the Quality of Life Short Form (QOL SF-36) and Family Assessment Device (FAD).


RESULTS
There was a significant group difference in the QOL SF-36 total as well as in the sub-scores of role limitations due to physical problems, role limitations due to emotional problems, vitality, pain, and social functioning sub-scores. No significant group differences were observed in FAD sub-scores, except for the subscale of problem solving.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest Al-Anon, when other structured therapeutic interventions are not available, may be of particular benefit for quality of life issues in women attendees.
a Ferdowsi University of Mashhad , Mashhad .
Afsaneh
A
Etemadi
Mahdi
M
Zarebahramabadi
Roksana
R
Mirkazemi
D000328:Adult; D000436:Alcoholics Anonymous; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D011788:Quality of Life
12-step; Al-Anon; Iran; alcoholism; family functioning; quality of life