Role of Social Support and Mental Pain in Suicidal Ideation among Women from Drug Afflicted Families

Abstract

The responsibility of caring for family members suffering from substance use disorders has a profound negative impact on the psychological and social lives of women. Punjab is one of the states in India where the drug menace has reached almost to every household. This study examined the predictive roles of perceived social support and mental pain (psychological pain) on suicidal ideation among wives and mothers of men with substance use disorder in Punjab, India. Using a cross-sectional quantitative design, a sample of women (N=209, aged 25–45 years) was recruited across four districts in Punjab (Bathinda, Barnala, Mansa and Patiala). Data were collected using the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (1979), the Orbach and Mikulincer Mental Pain Scale (2014), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS, 1988). Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis revealed that perceived social support significantly and negatively predicted suicidal ideation, accounting for 47.5 percent of the variance in the first step. The addition of mental pain in the second step significantly improved the model, accounting for an additional 8.1% of unique variance. Together, perceived social support and psychache accounted for 55.6% of the total variance in suicidal ideation (R2=.55, p<.001). These findings underscore the critical need for targeted psychosocial interventions that reduce internal psychological distress and establish accessible community support networks for female caregivers in addiction-afflicted households.