Web-Based Coping Skills Training for Women Whose Partner Has a Drinking Problem

Spouses whose partner has an alcohol use disorder can experience considerable psychological distress. Yet, because of social, financial, relationship, and psychological barriers they often remain hidden and underserved. To partially reduce treatment barriers for this population, this study evaluated...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychology of addictive behaviors 2015-03, Vol.29 (1), p.26-33
Main Authors: Rychtarik, Robert G., McGillicuddy, Neil B., Barrick, Christopher
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological - physiology
Adult
Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol related disorders
Alcohol-Related Disorders - psychology
Alcoholism
Confidence intervals
Coping Behavior
Coping strategies
Couples
Delayed
Drinking behavior
Efficacy
Female
Human
Humans
Internet
Intervention
Mental depression
Middle Aged
Online Therapy
Program Evaluation
Psychological distress
Psychotherapy - methods
Skill development
Spouses
Spouses - psychology
Stress, Psychological - etiology
Stress, Psychological - therapy
Treatment Effectiveness Evaluation
Treatment Outcome
Underserved populations
Women
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Summary:Spouses whose partner has an alcohol use disorder can experience considerable psychological distress. Yet, because of social, financial, relationship, and psychological barriers they often remain hidden and underserved. To partially reduce treatment barriers for this population, this study evaluated the short-term efficacy of a self-paced, web-delivered coping skills training program for women experiencing distress as a result of living with a partner with an alcohol use disorder. Participants (N = 89) were randomly assigned to either 8 weeks of an Internet-administered coping skills training program (iCST), or an 8-week delayed treatment control (DTC). Participation in, and satisfaction with iCST was high. At the end of the 8-week access/delay period, iCST participants exhibited a significantly higher level of coping skills relative to DTC, d = 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI; .64, 1.51], and reported significantly fewer depressive symptoms, d = −.65, 95% CI [−1.21, −.35], and situational anger, d = −.70, 95% CI [−1.62, −.64]. Moreover, iCST appeared to prevent an increase in symptoms among those with low baseline symptom levels; DTC did not. Skill acquisition appeared to partially mediate changes observed. Online coping skills training may be an effective way of reaching and helping a large number of this frequently underserved population.
ISSN:0893-164X
1939-1501
DOI:10.1037/adb0000032