A study of the family during separation from and reunion with an alcoholic husband
type: CreativeWork
description: Previous research has shown that the family system can undergo considerable reorganisation as a result of 'crisis’ experiences, and that the extent of the distress experienced by members is related not only to the severity of the crisis, but also to the resources which the family has at its disposal for adapting to the crisis, and to the family members' perception of the crisis event. The hospitalisation and the return of an alcoholic husband were taken as examples of the application of stress to the family system. Research on families in crisis has concentrated upon situations of financial deprivation and war separation. While the hospitalisation of mental patients has been investigated, in such studies the emphasis has not been upon the family. The present study was of an exploratory nature, with the aim of seeking to establish regularities within the adaptation patterns of the families and illustrate their relationship to the changes in the drinking patterns of the alcoholic husbands. Previous reports on the adaptation of the families to the 'crisis' of economic depression and war separation were used to obtain indications of factors important to the adaptation of families to stressors. In constructing a picture of the family in 'crisis', the following sources of data were used: 1. Questionnaires and scales - these were used to measure spouse perceptions, attitudes of family members to alcohol-related issues, structural and syntality variables relating to the family, marital adjustment, personality dimensions of the spouses, involvement in role-tasks, participation in the society, and sources of conflict. 2. Sociometric devices - to determine the degree of emotional involvement of members in the family, and relationships between family members. 3« Interview material - this material was obtained in a loosely structured interview. Questions focussed on family functioning and modes of adjustment. 4. Case material - while not providing the basis of the study, case ma…
abstract: Previous research has shown that the family system can undergo considerable reorganisation as a result of 'crisis’ experiences, and that the extent of the distress experienced by members is related not only to the severity of the crisis, but also to the resources which the family has at its disposal for adapting to the crisis, and to the family members' perception of the crisis event. The hospitalisation and the return of an alcoholic husband were taken as examples of the application of stress to the family system. Research on families in crisis has concentrated upon situations of financial deprivation and war separation. While the hospitalisation of mental patients has been investigated, in such studies the emphasis has not been upon the family. The present study was of an exploratory nature, with the aim of seeking to establish regularities within the adaptation patterns of the families and illustrate their relationship to the changes in the drinking patterns of the alcoholic husbands. Previous reports on the adaptation of the families to the 'crisis' of economic depression and war separation were used to obtain indications of factors important to the adaptation of families to stressors. In constructing a picture of the family in 'crisis', the following sources of data were used: 1. Questionnaires and scales - these were used to measure spouse perceptions, attitudes of family members to alcohol-related issues, structural and syntality variables relating to the family, marital adjustment, personality dimensions of the spouses, involvement in role-tasks, participation in the society, and sources of conflict. 2. Sociometric devices - to determine the degree of emotional involvement of members in the family, and relationships between family members. 3« Interview material - this material was obtained in a loosely structured interview. Questions focussed on family functioning and modes of adjustment. 4. Case material - while not providing the basis of the study, case ma…
author: Noller, Charles Geoffrey
language: en
date published: 1967
date modified: 2026-07-24T00:54:59Z
provider: Australian National University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Australian National University

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/1885/123349