Codependency and related health variables

Codependency is a controversial concept especially for feminist scholars wh o are concerned about pathologizing traditional female roles, This study's purpose was to determine: (1) the prevalence of codependency in a sample of older women who because of age may ascribe to traditional roles; (2) how t he Hughes-Hammer/Martsolf theoretical model of codependency relates to othe r health variables; and (3) whether previous findings about the relationshi p between codependency and depression replicate, Survey design was used wit h a sample of 238 women (ages 65 to 91) attending a flu shot clinic. Subjec ts completed the Codependency Assessment Tool, Beck Depression Inventory, Q uality of Life Scale, Perceived Health Report, Measurement of Patient Funct ional Abilities, and Illness Prevention Screening Behaviors Checklist. Of t hese women, 99% had low codependency scores. Statistically significant corr elations existed between codependency and perceived health (p < .01), and f unctional ability (p < .01). Codependency was not significantly correlated with illness prevention behaviors and quality of life. Codependency and dep ression, as in previous studies, were significantly correlated (r = .446, p = .0001). Using analysis of variance, 3 codependency subscales had signifi cant positive effect on depression: Low Self-Worth, Medical Problems, and H iding Self. Further studies should examine the degree of ascribing to tradi tional female roles in women dealing with codependency issues. Copyright (C ) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.