David E. Biegel, Ph.D.
The objective of this pilot research study is to enhance understanding of the impact upon
families of having a female family member with a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health
disorder. Families can be a major source of social support to their ill family members. Family
support and involvement has been shown to be positively related to retention in treatment and to
treatment outcomes for persons with substance abuse disorders. However, family caregivers who are
stressed by the caregiving experience and who subsequently develop physical and/or mental health
problems of their own may not be able to provide adequate support and assistance to their ill
family member. Unmet family caregiver needs can therefore pose barriers to treatment and/or can
negatively impact treatment outcomes of their ill family members and increase the risk of
exacerbation of the substance abuse and/or psychiatric disorders. This study has three aims:
- To assess the feasibility of adapting instruments developed for family caregivers of persons
with mental illness for use with family caregivers of women with a co-occurring substance abuse and
mental disorder (e.g., cocaine and other drug abuse and anxiety, depressive mental disorder, or
post-traumatic stress disorder) and caregivers of women with drug abuse only
- To gather preliminary descriptive data from family caregivers of key components of the
stress-coping process
- To assess a preliminary model of the correlates of caregiver well-being
The study utilizes an exploratory, non-experimental cross-sectional survey design. It makes
use of a stress-coping theoretical framework, which explores the relationship between stressors and
resources and their impact upon the physical and mental health outcomes of caregivers, as well as
perceived levels of stress among caregivers.
Research Related Publications:
Predictors
of Burden of Family Caregivers of Women with Substance Use Disorders or Co-Occurring Substance and
Mental Disorders
