Perceived Stress as a Predictor of Depressive Symptoms among Wives of Alcohol Dependent Persons

The present study observed the possible predictive effect of perceived stress on the depressive symptoms of wives of alcohol-dependent persons. Participants of the study involved 204 selected wives of alcohol-dependent persons from the 20 Kudumbasree groups (Women self-help group in Kerala, India) who completed the Perceived stress scale and Depressive Anxiety Stress Scale that measured perceived stress and depressive symptoms respectively. The results of the study showed a significantly positive relationship between perceived stress and depressive symptoms. Moreover, a regression analysis of the data showed that a significant variance of 60.3% of the depressive symptoms. The present study clearly gave the idea of perceived stress reduction can lessen the development of depressive symptoms among the participants. Thus, the present study recommends the need for a psychotherapeutic intervention program to be developed that can reduce perceived stress and depressive symptoms among wives of alcohol-dependent persons.