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What’s the Matter? Alcohol Use Risk Among Relatives of People with Mental Illness

Author

Listed:
  • Suzanne A. McKeag

    (Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada)

  • Gordon L. Flett

    (Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada)

  • Joel O. Goldberg

    (Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada)

Abstract

Family members who live with relatives with serious mental illness face unique mental health risks, which become worse with alcohol use and without social support. Research has highlighted the damaging effects of harmful substance use among people who feel like they do not matter to others, but few studies have assessed links between mattering and alcohol use within marginalized populations. In the present study, a sample of family members who reside with a relative with mental illness completed an online survey. Using the AUDIT alcohol screening measure, participants were classified into a No–Low Risk Alcohol Use ( n = 52) or a Hazardous Drinking ( n = 28) group. Hazardous alcohol use was alarmingly high, reaching triple the rate of the general population and categorized at the most severe level of harm. Those who drank hazardously felt like they mattered less to others ( p < 0.001), felt like they mattered less to their relative with mental illness ( p = 0.035), had greater anti-mattering (e.g., they felt invisible and unheard) ( p = 0.008), experienced more hopelessness ( p < 0.001), felt less supported by significant others ( p = 0.003), endorsed having more problems with mental health services ( p = 0.017), had higher stigma ( p < 0.001), and had lower psychological well-being ( p < 0.001). Findings highlight under-recognized public health risks, implications for public health initiatives, and the need for tailored interventions that boost mattering and reduce harmful alcohol use in this vulnerable family member population.

Suggested Citation

  • Suzanne A. McKeag & Gordon L. Flett & Joel O. Goldberg, 2024. "What’s the Matter? Alcohol Use Risk Among Relatives of People with Mental Illness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(12), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:12:p:1637-:d:1539398
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bunna Phoeun & Leang Chanthorn & Lena Schulhofer & Sareth Khann & Thea Soung & Kevin Conroy & Amanda J. Nguyen, 2023. "‘I feel hopeless’: Exploring the psychosocial impacts of caring for mentally ill relatives in Cambodia," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(2), pages 438-446, March.
    2. Muazzez Merve Avcıoğlu & Ayşe Nuray Karanci & Haldun Soygur, 2019. "What is related to the well-being of the siblings of patients with schizophrenia: An evaluation within the Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Stress and Coping Model," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 65(3), pages 252-261, May.
    3. Anita Appleton & Rosie James & John Larsen, 2018. "The Association between Mental Wellbeing, Levels of Harmful Drinking, and Drinking Motivations: A Cross-Sectional Study of the UK Adult Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-10, June.
    4. Joel O. Goldberg & Suzanne A. McKeag & Alison L. Rose & Heather Lumsden-Ruegg & Gordon L. Flett, 2023. "Too Close for Comfort: Stigma by Association in Family Members Who Live with Relatives with Mental Illness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-10, March.
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