Resilience based Intervention in the Child of a Person with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome: A Case Study

Alcohol use disorders have distinct effects on individual and family’s physical and mental health. The concerns and needs of family especially children of a parent with problematic alcohol use require careful attention from mental health professionals. Resilience building in children of persons with alcohol use disorders can play a crucial role in teaching adequate coping skills, dealing with emotional and behavioral issues, and enhancing self-esteem. The present study assessed coping, emotion regulation, self-esteem, and resilience of a child of a person with alcohol dependence syndrome and provide resilience-based intervention to enhance coping and emotion regulation and self-esteem. It was a single case experimental study that observed baseline data changes from pre to post-intervention. The case was selected from the out-patient department of LGB Regional Institute of Mental Health (LGBRIMH), Tezpur. The patient’s child was selected purposefully for assessment and intervention. Parents (the patient and his wife) and child were explained about the purpose of the study and written informed consent from the parent and assent from the child were obtained. Ways of coping questionnaire, Rosenberg self-esteem scale, Emotional regulation scale, child and Youth resilience scale was administered before and after a resilience-based intervention. The findings show that the child was having lower self-esteem, expressive suppression, relationship issues with the primary caregiver, and poor coping styles like distancing and avoidance. After resilience-based intervention, there was an improvement in the child’s coping skills, self-esteem, emotion monitoring, and overall resilience. Resilience based intervention can be effective in dealing with children of alcoholics.