Relationship between spouse abuse, social support and perceived stress in women with addicted and non-addicted husbands in Rasht city

Spouse abuse is a major human health and lawful problem and it refers to any violent sex related behavior that results in women’s physical, sexual and mental suffering. In attention that spouse abuse has complications and unsatisfactory social and family outcomes, it is necessary to identify factors which hinder family function. The study assessed and compared the relationship between spouse abuse, social support and perceived stress in women with addicted and non-addicted husbands in Rasht city. This is a descriptive analytical study. The sample consisted of 100 women (50 with addicted husbands and 50 with non-addicted husbands) who were selected by convenience sampling and answered the questionnaires of perceived stress, social support, and spouse abuse. The data was analyzed using statistical tests of independent T test, and correlation. The analyzed data showed that there was a significant difference between variables of spouse abuse and its subscales (physical, emotional, sexual, behavioral), social support, perceived stress, and its subscales(tangible support, emotional support, giving information, kindness, social interaction and total perceived stress score) in women with addicted and non-addicted husbands (p<0.01). The results showed that the amount of social support, perceived stress and spouse abuse is different between women with addicted husbands and women with non-addicted husbands. Therefore, training programs are more required for making a supportive environment to reduce vulnerability and damage on families with addicted individuals.