Alcohol-dependent patients' social support and its relation with alexithymia

Objective To investigate the current social support of alcohol-dependent patients and its relation with alexithymia so as to provide the basis for nursing intervention.Methods 56 male patients with alcohol dependence were investigated with Social Support Scale and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) to analyze the relation between social support and alexithymia. A control group (normal people) was made to compare the difference between them.Results Alcohol-dependent patients' subjective and objective support score[(10.61±4.376),(22.11±4.030)], support utilization rate(6.93±2.319) and total scores (39.68±8.714)were lower than those of the control group (t=-5.730,-2.379,-3.488,-5.181;P<0.05). Patients' age and alexithymia factor Ⅰ, Ⅱ is negatively correlated with subjective support (r=-0.269,P<0.05). Drinking history (r=-0.349,-0.371,-0.348;P<0.01),factor Ⅰ,factor Ⅱ (r=-0.301,-0.285;P<0.05) and factor Ⅲ (r=-0.357,-0.272;P<0.05).is negatively correlated with subjective support, objective support and support utilization rate.Conclusions Social support and alexithymia apparently interact with each other, nurses shall guide patients to correctly identify and feel their experience, effectively disclose their inner expectations and make their social support system consummate. Key words: Social support;  Nursing;  Alcohol dependence;  Alexithymia