A Comparative Study on Psychological Morbidity and Adjustment among Wives of Alcoholics and Non-Alcoholics

This study explores the differences in psychological morbidity and adjustment patterns among wives of alcohol-dependent men and wives of non-alcoholics. The sample comprised 60 married women aged between 35 and 40 years, recruited using purposive sampling techniques. Thirty participants were wives of individuals clinically diagnosed with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome (ADS) as per DSM-5 criteria, and thirty were wives of non-drinkers. Participants were married for a minimum of five years. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) was administered to measure psychological morbidity, while the Bell?s Adjustment Inventory (Adult Form) assessed adjustment across home, health, and emotional domains. Statistical analyses revealed that wives of alcoholics exhibited significantly higher levels of psychological morbidity and maladjustment across all domains compared to wives of non-alcoholics. These differences were significant at the 0.01 level. The findings emphasize the emotional vulnerability and psychosocial strain experienced by spouses of individuals with alcohol dependence and highlight the urgent need for targeted psychosocial interventions.