Perceived stress, marital satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction in spouses of males having bipolar disorder with and without alcohol use disorder: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are frequently comorbid and affect the social, occupational, and personal domains of patients and their spouses.

AIM: This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess and compare the levels of stress, marital satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction between the spouses of males with BPAD + AUD and of those without AUD.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Spouses of 100 males with diagnosed BPAD, currently in remission, including fifty patients having comorbid AUD, were recruited as participants. Participants were assessed with Perceived Stress Scale-10, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and Sexuality Scale.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics, Chi-square, t-test, analysis of variance, and correlation on SPSS were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

More stress (59%), poorer marital (53%) and sexual satisfaction (89%) were found in the majority participants, with significantly higher stress in the group with husbands having both BPAD + AUD (P < 0.01). Duration of cohabitation had a direct, and education and family income had inverse relations with stress.

CONCLUSIONS

BPAD worsens stress, marital satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction in the study participants, the stress increasing further with comorbid AUD. Education, family income, and duration of cohabitation have a significant bearing on stress.