Volume :

9

Issue :

1

Abstract :

Societies in India irrespective of the religion primarily follow a shame and honor culture, where persons committing sin, in this instance consumption of alcohol foresee potential danger of loneliness that subsequently leads to decline in self-esteem. In this study, we aimed at comparing alcohol dependent Hindus (H+) and alcohol dependent non-hindus (H-) on loneliness and self-esteem and, correlating these two measures. Fifty patients (all males) diagnosed alcohol dependence syndrome according to ICD (DCR)-10 and having successfully completed detoxification were divided into age matched H+ and H-groups, each consisting of 25 subjects. Severity of dependence, self-esteem and loneliness were assessed with Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ), Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale and revised UCLA Loneliness Scale respectively. Appropriate statistical methods were employed. The two groups did not differ significantly on age of onset, duration of alcohol intake and duration of alcohol dependence. Self-esteem was significantly lower (t=-2.38, p=0.02) in H+ group than in H-group. Pearson correlation showed significant negative correlation (r= -0.44, p=0.02) between loneliness and self-esteem in H+ group.