Co-Dependency and Depressive Symptoms among Wives of Alcoholics Selected in Hospital, Erode

In India is one of the largest producers of alcohol in the world and there has been a steady increase in its production over the last 15 years, according to new statistics. The problem of excessive alcohol consumption is a major cause of public health concern in most countries of the world today .Heavy consumption, which involves for more than dependence, can cause undoubted misery to individual, who is usually affected by other physical, psychological, and social disabilities as well.

Objectives: co-relate co -dependency and depressive symptoms among wives of alcoholics

Design: descriptive research design.

Setting: VK hospital and Nallandha de addiction centre, Erode

Participants: 30 wives of alcoholics with fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected by purposive sampling.

Methods: Codependency scale and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES - D) are used to collect the data from wives of alcoholics.

Results: From the findings of the study it can be concluded that the most of them were in the age group of 41 -50 years, Hindus, joint family, belongs to Conjugal marriage, living with husband for above 10 years, had 3 children's, had secondary education, house wife, family income belongs to 10,000 - 15,000, consuming alcohol for above 6 years and had history of parents. Most (90%) of them were high co dependency and Most (94%) of them were mild depression. The Co - dependency mean score was (56.8 ± 7.31), which is 81% and Depressive symptoms mean score was (37.8 ± 8.01), which is 47%. Co-relation between co - dependency and depressive symptoms scores was (0.9) highly positive relationship between these variables. No significant association between the co - dependency and depressive symptoms scores of wives of alcoholics when compared to demographic variables. Conclusion: The aim of the study was to assess the co - dependency and depressive symptoms among wives of alcoholics. It was found that there is a positive co - relation between co - dependency and depression.