The study of individual and psychological characteristics of codependent family members

Abstract

This article deals with the problem of codependency as a condition applicable with respect to spouses, partners, children of chemically dependent people. The article presents the results of the research aimed at studying the individual-and-psychological characteristics of codependent family members and their impact on the emergence of drug and alcohol dependency. The research revealed a specific relationship between the individual- and-personal characteristics of the family members and the emergence of chemical dependency. People suffering from codependency are characterized with a low level of subjective control, a high level of anxiety, low self-esteem and a high level of family-conditioned mental stress. The view on drug addiction as an individual problem in the context of interfamilial environment has been getting more and more supporters, and, in fact, is marking the appearance of a fundamentally new approach to addiction treatment. Thus, the work with the dependent's environment, his family is becoming one of the most important factors of success in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction.