ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to determine and compare the prevalence of codependency in a group of 77 female and a group of 72 male helping professionals. Relatively low rates of codependency were observed in this sample, and the five-factor structure of the Codependency Assessment Tool (CODAT) was replicated. Males showed slightly higher codependency than females on the total CODAT and on the Hiding Self and Family of Origin Issues subscales. The CODAT was shown to be relevant to both males and females. Further research is needed to determine if a general population of male and female subjects would yield similar results.
Subject(s)
Codependency, Psychological , Health Personnel/psychology , Helping Behavior , Men/psychology , Women/psychology , Adult , Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Psychological Tests , Risk Factors , Sex Factors , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Seven million American women are depressed, and 40 million Americans, primarily women, have been labeled as codependent. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of codependency in women undergoing treatment for depression, examine the relationship between codependency and depression, and determine which of the symptoms of codependency are most highly predictive of depression scores. Depression and codependency were measured in a sample of 105 depressed women by using the Beck Depression Inventory and the Codependency Assessment Tool. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's Product Moment Correlation, and multiple regression were used for analysis. Of these depressed women, 36% were moderately to severely codependent. Depression and codependency were strongly related, with the significant gamma = .92 (P < .001). Of the codependency subscales, Low Self-Worth and Hiding Self correlate most strongly with depression; Other Focus/Self-Neglect added the least-independent--explanatory power. Thus, future research should be directed toward the relationship of codependency to power, alienation of self, and personality disorders.
Subject(s)
Codependency, Psychological , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Women/psychology , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Models, Psychological , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology , Predictive Value of Tests , Prevalence , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Regression Analysis , Self Concept , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Codependency constitutes a significant health risk, particularly for women, because codependent women are often involved in abusive and potentially harmful relationships. Individuals who are identified as codependent can engage in therapy and gain knowledge and freedom from such relationships. However, there is no reliable and valid measure of codependency that is consistently used to identify these individuals. This article describes the development and testing of the Codependency Assessment Tool, a multivariate tool that conceptualizes codependency as a construct comprising five factors: (1) Other Focus/Self-Neglect, (2) Low Self-Worth, (3) Hiding Self, (4) Medical Problems, and (5) Family of Origin Issues. The instrument has excellent reliability and validity. Its test-retest reliabilities = .78 to .94; Cronbach's alpha = .78 to .91. Criterion validity was determined to be established by using known groups; construct validity was established by comparing the codependency dimensions with depression.
