A PREVALENCE STUDY ON COPING BEHAVIOURS OF WIVES OF HUSBAND WITH ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF NORTH EASTERN REGION OF INDIA.

Background: Maladaptive ways of thinking and behaviour occur disproportionately more among wives of individual with alcohol dependence who has poor social support. Considerably less research, however, has focused on the coping behaviour of spouses of the husband with alcohol used disorder. The coping strategies used by them include pleading, threatening, arguing, avoiding, and withdrawal sexually, being indulgent, taking greater control or responsibilities, seeking outside help and taking step towards separation (Orford, J.1975, Orford,Jetal.,1975). Results: In this study specific component of coping behaviour most frequently found among the wives of alcoholic are Discord are maximum in number with 82% which is followed by Avoidance and Taking special action in number of wives with 74% and 76% respectively.Then followed by "Anti drink" (56%) and Sexual withdrawal (54%). Least commonly occurring coping behaviour were Competition (16%),Marital breakdown(18%), Indulgence and Fearful withdrawal (22%) each. In this marital breakdown was found with 18% cases.