Interactional Dynamics in Alcohol-Complicated Marital Relationships: A Study from India

This study seeks to understand differences in the interpersonal dynamics of couples living in alcohol-complicated and alcohol-free marital relationships in India. An ex-post facto cross-sectional design was used to compare 150 wives of alcoholics with an equal number of wives of nonalcoholics, who were administered standardized instruments to assess marital adjustment and family interaction pattern. Analyses show that wives of alcoholics have lower levels of marital adjustment and a poorer family interaction pattern across various domains, in consonance with the Western literature on these issues. Covariates analyzed included four variables such as type of family, type of marriage, consanguinity, and wife's occupational status. Implications for de-addiction programs in India are discussed and the need for couple/family-based therapy is emphasised.