Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, & Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm Riddargatan 1, 114 35, Stockholm, Sweden.
Stockholm Centre for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.
Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2023 Feb 15;18(1):12. doi: 10.1186/s13722-023-00369-y.
Unhealthy alcohol use (UAU) affects not only the drinking individual, but also significant others (SOs), such as partners and children. Most of the harm to others caused by alcohol can be attributed to common, moderate drinking patterns, but existing studies have mainly included SOs of individuals with severe UAU. There is a need for increased knowledge regarding SOs of individuals in an earlier stage of UAU and efficacious support programs for this group. The aims of this study were to investigate reasons for seeking support as described by SOs sharing a child with a co-parent with UAU and to investigate how SOs perceived effects of a web-based self-delivered support program.
A qualitative design conducting semi-structured interviews with 13 female SOs sharing a child with a co-parent with UAU. The SOs were recruited from a randomized controlled trial of the web-based program and had completed at least two of four modules in the program. Transcribed interviews were analyzed using conventional qualitative content analysis.
Regarding reasons for seeking support, we created four categories and two subcategories. Main reasons were wanting validation/emotional support and coping strategies for handling the co-parent, and negative perceptions of available support options for SOs. Regarding perceived effects of the program, we created three categories and three subcategories. Main effects were an improved relationship to their children, increased own positive activities, and less adaptation to the co-parent, though SOs also mentioned what was perceived as missing in the program. We argue that the interviewees represent a population of SOs living with co-parents with slightly less severe UAU than previous studies and therefore provide new insights for future interventions.
The web-based approach with potential anonymity was important for facilitating support-seeking. Support for the SOs themselves and coping strategies for co-parent alcohol consumption were more common reasons for seeking help than worry about the children. For many SOs, the program was a first step in seeking further support. Spending more dedicated time with their children and being validated as living under stressful conditions were described by the SOs as particularly helpful. Trial registration The trial was pre-registered at isrctn.com, reference number ISRCTN38702517, November 28, 2017.
不健康的饮酒行为（UAU）不仅影响饮酒者本人，还影响到重要他人（SOs），如伴侣和子女。大多数由酒精引起的对他人的伤害都可以归因于常见的、适度的饮酒模式，但现有的研究主要包括酗酒者的 SOs。需要更多地了解处于 UAU 早期阶段的个体的 SOs 以及针对这一群体的有效支持计划。本研究的目的是调查与有 UAU 共同父亲的子女共享的 SOs 所描述的寻求支持的原因，并调查 SOs 如何看待基于网络的自我提供支持计划的效果。
采用半结构式访谈的定性设计，对 13 名与有 UAU 共同父亲的子女共享的女性 SOs 进行了访谈。这些 SOs 是从一个基于网络的计划的随机对照试验中招募的，并且已经完成了该计划的四个模块中的至少两个。转录后的访谈采用常规的定性内容分析进行分析。
关于寻求支持的原因，我们创建了四个类别和两个子类别。主要原因是寻求认可/情感支持和应对共同父亲的策略，以及对 SOs 可用支持选项的负面看法。关于对该计划的效果的看法，我们创建了三个类别和三个子类别。主要效果是与子女的关系得到改善，自己的积极活动增加，对共同父亲的适应减少，尽管 SOs 也提到了他们认为该计划中缺失的东西。我们认为，接受采访的人代表了一个与 UAU 程度略低于以前研究的共同父亲生活在一起的 SOs 群体，因此为未来的干预提供了新的见解。
具有潜在匿名性的基于网络的方法对于促进支持寻求很重要。支持 SOs 本身和应对共同父亲饮酒的策略是寻求帮助的更常见原因，而不是担心孩子。对许多 SOs 来说，该计划是寻求进一步支持的第一步。SOs 描述说，与子女共度更多时间和被认可处于压力环境下特别有帮助。试验注册该试验于 2017 年 11 月 28 日在 isrctn.com 上预先注册，参考号为 ISRCTN38702517。
