Social adjustment of family members and significant others (FSOs) of drug users

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2002

Abstract

This study investigated the social adjustment of female family members and significant others (FSOs) of illicit drug users in order to gain insight into the impact of drug use upon those close to the user. Using the Social Adjustment Scale-Self Report (SAS-SR), we examined the social adjustment self-ratings (overall and in seven specific role areas) of 41 female partners and 24 mothers of drug users. We compared these ratings to the ratings they reported for their drug-using partners or children, to each other, and to self-ratings drawn from community comparison samples. As expected, results showed that the female FSOs reported significantly better social adjustment than the drug users in most role areas. However, their social adjustment was compromised relative to the community samples. Partners of drug users reported poorer adjustment than parents of drug users overall and in the specific areas of marital and economic functioning. Further inquiry is needed to improve our understanding of the impact of drug use on the users' family members. © 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.

Publication Title

Journal of substance abuse treatment

Volume

23

Issue

3

First Page

171

Last Page

181

Comments

This article was published in Journal of substance abuse treatment, Volume 23, Issue 3.

The published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0740-5472(02)00245-3 .

Copyright © 2002.

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