See the published version of this article at Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy.
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"I can't live like that": The experience of caregiver stress of caring for a relative with substance use disorder
Geoffrey Maina
University of Saskatchewan
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4982-9656
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy.
Background: The impact of addiction extends beyond the individual using a substance. Caring for an individual with addiction creates persistent stressful circumstances that cause worry, anger, depression, shame, guilt, anxiety, and behavioral problems within the family unit.
The aim of the study: The paper aims to explore the experiences of caring for a relative with a substance use disorder (SUD) and self-care strategies caregivers employ.
Methods: The study adopted an exploratory qualitative design. To be included in the study, participants were required to have a relative with a (SUD) disorder and not be actively using the substance themselves. Individual interviews were conducted to gather their experiences, meanings, and how they made sense of caring for a relative with a SUD.
Results: 21 Participants were involved in the study, of which 17 were women, and four were men of which there had a sister, four had a brother, eight had a parent, six had a dependent, and one participant had a grandparent with a SUD. Four themes, whose overarching focus is the pains of living and caring for a family with a SUD, caused the participants and how the participants mitigated these experiences.
Conclusion: The stress associated with caring for individuals with a SUD impacts the caregiver's physical and mental health. Specific care modalities targeting caregivers need to be developed to address the health impact and to support self-care.
Keywords
substance use, caregiver distress, self-care
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- Appendix1.docx
Appendix 1: Interviewer guide
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
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Posted 13 Jan, 2021
Published
On 15 Jan, 2021
No community comments so far
Editor assigned
On 01 Jan, 2021
Editorial decision: Accept
On 01 Jan, 2021
Submission checks complete
On 01 Jan, 2021
Editor invited
On 01 Jan, 2021
Version (no preprint)
Posted 22 Dec, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 22 Dec, 2020
Editor assigned
On 21 Dec, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 21 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 21 Dec, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 21 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 21 Dec, 2020
This version was not preprinted
No comments provided
Review #2 received
Received 15 Nov, 2020
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 15 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 14 Oct, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 29 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 08 Sep, 2020
Editor assigned
On 31 Aug, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 31 Aug, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 30 Aug, 2020
Editor invited
On 30 Aug, 2020
First submitted
On 28 Aug, 2020
Metrics
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PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Psychology
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This preprint is under consideration at Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research
"I can't live like that": The experience of caregiver stress of caring for a relative with substance use disorder
Geoffrey Maina
University of Saskatchewan
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4982-9656
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
Version 2
Posted 13 Jan, 2021
Published
On 15 Jan, 2021
No community comments so far
Editor assigned
On 01 Jan, 2021
Editorial decision: Accept
On 01 Jan, 2021
Submission checks complete
On 01 Jan, 2021
Editor invited
On 01 Jan, 2021
Version (no preprint)
Posted 22 Dec, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 22 Dec, 2020
Editor assigned
On 21 Dec, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 21 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 21 Dec, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 21 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 21 Dec, 2020
This version was not preprinted
No comments provided
Review #2 received
Received 15 Nov, 2020
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 15 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 14 Oct, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 29 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 08 Sep, 2020
Editor assigned
On 31 Aug, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 31 Aug, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 30 Aug, 2020
Editor invited
On 30 Aug, 2020
First submitted
On 28 Aug, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Psychology
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy.
Background: The impact of addiction extends beyond the individual using a substance. Caring for an individual with addiction creates persistent stressful circumstances that cause worry, anger, depression, shame, guilt, anxiety, and behavioral problems within the family unit.
The aim of the study: The paper aims to explore the experiences of caring for a relative with a substance use disorder (SUD) and self-care strategies caregivers employ.
Methods: The study adopted an exploratory qualitative design. To be included in the study, participants were required to have a relative with a (SUD) disorder and not be actively using the substance themselves. Individual interviews were conducted to gather their experiences, meanings, and how they made sense of caring for a relative with a SUD.
Results: 21 Participants were involved in the study, of which 17 were women, and four were men of which there had a sister, four had a brother, eight had a parent, six had a dependent, and one participant had a grandparent with a SUD. Four themes, whose overarching focus is the pains of living and caring for a family with a SUD, caused the participants and how the participants mitigated these experiences.
Conclusion: The stress associated with caring for individuals with a SUD impacts the caregiver's physical and mental health. Specific care modalities targeting caregivers need to be developed to address the health impact and to support self-care.