EFFECTS OF EXPRESSED FAMILY EMOTIONS ON RELAPSE OF CLIENTS WITH ALCOHOL USE DISORDER IN UASIN GISHU COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study investigated the effect of expressed family emotions on relapse of clients with alcohol use disorder in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. This was in the light of concern that recovered clients with alcohol use disorder relapsed after they join their families in Uasin Gishu. The study was guided by the following nine research objectives: to identify which type of expressed family emotions influence relapse of clients with alcohol use disorder, to investigate the exent of relapse among clients with alcohol use disorder, to examine whether expressed hostility of family members affect relapse of clients with alcohol use disorder, to determine the extent to which expressed criticism of family members affect relapse of clients with alcohol use disorder, to assess how expressed over-involvement of family members affect relapse of clients with alcohol use disorder, to determine the extent expression of empathy of family members affect relapse of clients with alcohol use disorder, to establish how expressed positive comments of family members affect relapse of clients with alcohol use disorder, to find out which family socio-demographic characteristics affect relapse of clients with alcohol use disorder and to investigate after-care strategies to prevent relapse.The study was anchored on Structural Family Therapy and adopted convergent parallel mixed method research design. The target population of 256, comprising clients with alcohol use disorder (N=116), the family members (N=116) counsellors (N=8) and relapsed clients with alcohol use disorder (N=12). A sample size of 156 was selected out which 92 responded to the study. Stratified and systematic random sampling was use to select clients with alcohol use disorder and family members. Purposive sampling techniques were used to select relapsed clients and counselors. Data collection instruments were questionnaires for clients with alcohol use disorder and the other questionnaire was for family members. Focus group discussion guides one for relapsed clients with alcohol use disorder and the other for counselors. Cronbach Alpha techniques determined the reliability of 0.770 for quantitative data, while qualitative items established in terms of their trustworthiness. Data was analysis was using descriptive and inferential statistics and analysed thematically presented by narrations. Chi squared test was employed to test the hypotheses. Both qualitative and quantitative findings established positive significant relationship between expressed family emtions and relapse. Hostility 70.967 (p<.001), criticism 62.721 (p<.001), overinvolvement 98.285 (p<.001), while a negative correction empathy 44.797 (p<.001, and positive comments 25.193 (p=.003) had an effect on relapse of clients with alcohol use disorder. Rate of relapse is high at 78.9% In conclusion expressed family members’ hostility, criticism and over-involvement, empathy and positive comments affected relapse of clients with alcohol use disorder. Based on the findings study recommend that: Addiction counsellors need to help family members to recognize and learn new skills of dealing with expressed emotions, rehabilitation programs need to include family members in the treatment of clients with alcohol use disorder. NACADA should revise the policy of rehabilitation programs to include family members.