Date

5-20-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)

Chair

Jerra Dooley

Keywords

Substance addiction, non-addicted husbands, depression, quality of life, and God attachment

Disciplines

Counseling

Abstract

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of Christian non-addicted husbands who are married to a substance-abusing wife in Texas. A thorough review of existing literature indicated that previous research has focused on female non-addicted family members. From this, a gap was identified, and the central research question was developed: How did the Christian non-addicted husband describe the personal effect of living with a substance-abusing wife? Family systems theory, attachment theory, and attachment to God theory guided this study. The sample included 12 husbands whose wives abuse substances. The data collection consisted of the completion of the Family CAGE-AID, Beck Depression Inventory, God Attachment Inventory, and the semi-structured interview. After coding the interviews, five themes were identified, which included: anxiety, faith, lack of peace, avoidance, and daily life. These five themes were described throughout the research in how being married to a substance-abusing wife impacts quality of life, symptoms of depression, and attachment to God. The study results can assist with the development of appropriate therapeutic interventions and assist pastors in understanding the impact of substance abuse on family members. A limitation of this study is that it was conducted via Zoom. Recommendations for future research include exploring symptoms of anxiety for the non-addicted husband and how depression symptoms relate to the connection with God. This study sought to understand the lived experiences of non-addicted husbands and how spousal substance abuse affects quality of life, feelings of depression, and God attachment.

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