Frustration Tolerance and Helplessness in Wives of Alcohol Dependents and Healthy Controls: A Comparative Study

Alcohol dependence is a psychiatric disorder characterized by an inability to control or reduce alcohol consumption despite experiencing adverse consequences across various life domains. The cyclical pattern of relapse and recovery associated with this disorder perpetuates ongoing challenges for the wives of individuals with alcohol dependence. Repeatedly witnessing their husband's problematic drinking patterns often erodes their sense of hope, making it increasingly difcult for them to maintain emotional stability. Consequently, their frustration tolerance becomes diminished. Moreover, due to the chronic and recurrent nature of alcohol dependence, the wives' coping efforts frequently yield limited success, leading to a profound sense of helplessness. The present study aimed to compare frustration tolerance and helplessness levels in wives of individuals with alcohol dependence and wives of healthy controls. A sample of 100 wives of alcohol dependents was selected through purposive sampling and compared with 100 wives of healthy control subjects on the scales of frustration tolerance and helplessness. The results revealed that wives of alcohol dependents scored signicantly lower on frustration tolerance and higher on helplessness compared to wives of healthy controls.