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Social functioning across the adult lifespan: A comparison of alcoholic and socially well-adjusted adults
Abstract
Psychosocial functioning of alcoholics in treatment and nonalcoholic socially well-adjusted males and females in three age groups, 20-39 years, 40-54 years and 55 years and older, was investigated. Emphasis was placed on comparing alcoholic and nonalcoholic groups on social functioning measures that assessed personal, interpersonal, and community social adjustment and activity participation. A structured interview of approximately one hour included the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test, the Heimler Scale of Social Functioning, several Scheidt-Windley Scales, and demographic information. Three way between groups factorial 2 (Alcoholic x Nonalcoholic) by 2 (Male x Female) by 3 (Young x Middle-aged x Senior) analyses of variance were used. Results found highly significant differences between alcoholics and nonalcoholics on psychosocial functioning. Alcoholics reported less affect balance, lower general morale, greater psychosocial consequences from alcohol abuse, and more psychopathology than the nonalcoholics. Women alcoholics across all age groups as well as middle-aged and senior male alcoholics admitted to more symptoms of psychopathology but young male alcoholics reported symptoms more similar to the nonalcoholics. Alcoholics exhibited significantly lower levels of social adjustment that included less satisfaction with employment, finances, and interpersonal relationships. They perceived more negative life events in their personal and professional lives. Relationships with larger social groups were also impacted. Less satisfaction with community resources and relationships and less social connectedness between community residents were reported by alcoholics. Gender and age also impacted social functioning with some evidence suggesting that young male alcoholics experienced higher levels of social dysfunction especially in regard to general community and emotionally close relationships. Middle-aged alcoholics reported more problems in physical health, marital relationships, and employment with males experiencing lower activity participation than female peers. senior male alcoholics reported even less breadth and intensity of activity participation with a preference for activities that were not interpersonal in nature. Results are discussed in the context of individualizing and prioritizing assessment and treatment for male and female alcoholics in the three age groups. Limitations of the study and areas for future research are identified.
Subject Area
Social psychology|Psychotherapy|Families & family life|Personal relationships|Sociology
Recommended Citation
Rhodes, Jacqueline Kay McIntire, "Social functioning across the adult lifespan: A comparison of alcoholic and socially well-adjusted adults" (1995). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9600751.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9600751