J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs.  2020 Dec;29(4):315-324. 10.12934/jkpmhn.2020.29.4.315.

Post-traumatic Growth in Spouses of Alcoholic Husbands, who have Suffered from Domestic Violence

• Choi JM
• Lee MH
• Lee EJ
• Park S

• KMID: 2512371
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2020.29.4.315

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to elucidate the experiences of post-traumatic growth among spouses of alcoholics.
Methods
This study used narrative inquiry. The participants were three middle-aged women who had suffered domestic violence from their husbands, the latter of whom had been diagnosed with alcohol use disorders. In-depth interviews with each participant were conducted twice from June to July 2019.
Results
The participants reappraised the intrusive symptoms and negative feelings caused by their husbands' drinking problems and domestic violence, and they deliberately repeated reflective pondering through cognitive and emotional flexibility. The perception of social support from actively explored support resources led them to choose a problem-focused coping strategy. Their views of themselves, interpersonal relationships, and philosophical views that had collapsed due to trauma were reconstructed, thus attaining self-transformation.
Conclusion
The subjective perception of social support among spouses of alcoholics was affected by the social and cultural contexts and the means of support. Using an emotional-focused coping strategy to accommodate negative emotional response from trauma as well as helping deal with the emotions themselves are important for driving growth motivation and post-traumatic growth. Post-traumatic growth is the process of reconstructing narratives and integrating them into life stories, thereby giving meaning to life.

Keyword

Spouse of alcoholics; Posttraumatic growth; Domestic violence; 알코올중독자의 배우자, 외상 후 성장, 가정폭력