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Adaptive coping strategies of affected family members of a relative with substance misuse: A qualitative study
Author(s) -
McCann Terence V.,
Lubman Dan I.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of advanced nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.948
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1365-2648
pISSN - 0309-2402
DOI - 10.1111/jan.13405
Subject(s) - coping (psychology) , psychology , mental health , qualitative research , social support , family support , adaptive strategies , clinical psychology , nursing , medicine , social psychology , psychiatry , physical therapy , social science , sociology , archaeology , history
Aim To explore the coping strategies used by affected family members of a relative with substance misuse. Background Families play an important role in supporting a relative with substance misuse. However, the experience often has an adverse effect on their general well‐being, the extent of which depends largely on their coping strategies. Design An interpretative phenomenological analysis study. Data were collected between January ‐ December 2015. Method Semistructured, audio‐recorded qualitative interviews were conducted with 31 affected family members. Results Three main themes and related subthemes were abstracted from the data illustrating how participants coped with their relative's substance misuse: (1) Seeking timely access to evidence‐based information; (2) Enhancing personal coping strategies and (3) Accessing informal and formal support. Conclusion Greater investment is needed in support services for affected family members, particularly in regional and rural areas. A wide range of accessible evidence‐based information and informal and formal support, including telephone and online support, is needed to assist them to cope in this crucial support‐giving role. Affected family members need to adopt a flexible set of coping strategies while supporting a relative with substance misuse. Family and friends, alcohol and other drug services, mental health nurses and other clinicians have a critical role providing emotional, instrumental and educational support to affected family members to enhance their adaptive coping strategies.