Background
depression, psychiatric, trauma
DISORDERS
In Sweden, approximately 15% of men and 12% of women show patterns of unhealthy alcohol use (UAU) [Life as a significant other (SO) to a person with UAU is associated with elevated levels of psychiatric conditions such as substance use disorders, depression, and trauma, but also somatic problems and impaired quality of life [Research on female SOs sharing a child with a co-parent with UAU has shown high levels of stress and strain and that all aspects of life are negatively affected [Children growing up with at least one parent with UAU have increased risks for several negative psychiatric and social consequences [There is evidence that family-oriented interventions ameliorate substance use problems and improve family functioning and SO mental health [The present qualitative study is part of a larger project where a web-based, self-delivered support program for SOs sharing a child with a co-parent with UAU was developed and evaluated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT), reported in [The web-based self-delivered design was intended to make the program accessible to SOs across Sweden and to enable anonymity for SOs. This was done to reduce barriers, since this is a group unwilling to seek support due to stigma, shame, or fear of revealing alcohol problems in the family to authorities [The specific aim of the present study was twofold: (i) to investigate reasons for seeking support as described by the SOs; (ii) to investigate how the SOs perceived the effect that the program had on themselves, the children, and the drinking co-parent.Findings from this study could contribute to new insights regarding how to reach and help SOs at an earlier stage of the development of UAU in a co-parent, knowledge most likely not limited to the specific situation of SOs sharing a child with a co-parent, but applicable to SOs in general.