Socio-Emotional Factors in Alcohol Dependence

BACKGROUND: Alcohol-dependent patients are traditionally believed to have insecure attachment styles, higher anger expression, and lower self-esteem. There is a need to study them together. AIM: To understand the relationships amongst various of the socio-emotional factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty male patients with Alcohol dependence syndrome and 40 matched healthy controls (General Health Questionnaire-12 score <3) were compared on attachment styles (on Relationship Scale Questionnaire), anger domains (on State Trait Anger Expression Inventory), and self-esteem (on Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale). STATISTICS AND ANALYSIS: Comparison using independent samples t test and chi square test; correlation using Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Patients had significantly higher anger expression, ‘anger in’ and ‘anger out,’ and lower self-esteem than healthy controls. Severity of alcohol dependence had significant correlation with ‘anger out,’ and self-esteem had significant negative correlation with anger expression. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that the socio-emotional factors studied are developmentally linked to each other.