Caregiver Stress, Perceived Stigma and Mental Health in Female Family Members of Drug Addicts: Correlational Study

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship of caregiver stress and perceived stigma with mental health in female family members of drug addicts.

Methods: The correlational study was conducted in Lahore, Pakistan, from February to August 2017, and comprised female family members of drug addicts from various rehabilitation and health facilities of the city. A brief interview form along with Perceived Stigma of Substance Abuse Scale, Kingston Caregiver Stress Scale and Mental Health Inventory was used for data collection. SPSS 20 was used for data analysis.

Results: Of the 200 subjects, 66 (33%) were daughters, 66(33%) were sisters and 68(34%) were wives of drug addicts. The overall mean age was 30.57±8.07 years (range: 21-55 years). Perceived stigma and caregiver stress were significant predictors of mental health of the subjects (p<0.05 each). Moreover, daughters, sisters and wives of drug addicts did not significantly differ with respect to perceived stigma, caregiver stress and mental health (p>0.05). .

Conclusions: Perceived stigma and caregiver stress were found to be significant predictors of mental health of female family members of drug addicts.

Keywords: Stigma, Caregiver stress, Mental health, Drug addicts, Female.