Developing Country Studies www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-607X (Paper) ISSN 2225-0565 (Online) Vol.7, No.1, 2017 31 Psychosocial Challenges of Alcohol Abuse and Its Effect on the Marital Relationship in Ainamoi Division, Kericho County, Kenya Gladys Bett 1* Christine M. Wasanga 2 Merecia Sirera 2 1.University of Kabianga, Student Affairs department P.O Box 2030 Kericho 2.Department of Psychology, Kenyatta University P.o. Box 43844,Nairobi Abstract In Kenya recent community studies indicate (nacada,2012) indicate significant alcohol consumption resulting in many deaths. Despite prevalence of alcohol abuse, few studies have been done on the challenges of alcohol abuse and its effect on the non-drinking spouse. Most past studies on effect on alcohol abuse on spousal relationship have focused on the role of spouse on facilitating or curtailing alcohol abuse of their spouses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges of alcohol abuse and its effect in the marital relationship. The study was carried out in Ainamoi Division, Kericho County. To realize the purpose of the study a descriptive survey design was used and data was collected through questionnaires, interviews and focused group discussion. The target populations were people whose spouses’ abuse alcohol and were selected using stratified and snowballing sampling procedures. The division was stratified into urban and rural so as to ensure comprehensive coverage of the area. Snowballing sampling was used to identify participants who led the researchers to others. A sample population of 144 respondents was used. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze quantitative data with the help of the Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS). The qualitative data was summarized into themes in line with the study objectives and thematic analysis done. The research found out that alcohol abuse causes many challenges for example it causes failure in communication, financial problems, resentments, domestic violence among others which affect the spousal relationship. The research recommends that there is need to sensitize non-drinking spouses on the psychosocial challenges of alcohol abuse on the spousal relationship. There is also need for establishment of counseling centers in more places in order the address the alcohol problem. This would assist non-alcoholic spouses to cope with alcohol abuse in a more effective way. Keywords: Challenges, psychosocial, alcohol abuse, spousal relationship, Kenya 1. Introduction The Global status of alcohol abuse (2014) reports that harmful use of alcohol is one of the world’s leading risk factors for morbidity, disability and mortality. It is a component cause of more than 200 disease and injury conditions as described in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) 10th Revision (WHO, 2011). Globally, alcohol consumption results in approximately 3.3 million deaths each year, and this number has already been adjusted to take into account the beneficial impact of low risk patterns of alcohol consumption on some diseases. Of all deaths worldwide, 5.9% are attributable to alcohol consumption; this is greater than, for example, the proportion of deaths from HIV/AIDS (2.8%), violence (0.9%) or tuberculosis (1.7%). Also, 5.1% of the global burden of disease and injury is attributable to alcohol, as measured in disability adjusted life years (DALYs). This implies that alcohol consumption is a problem affecting the whole world. These people affected by alcohol come from communities and families and hence affecting them too. Psychosocial effects are a combination of psychological and social factors responsible for the well- being of people. The term directs attention towards totality of people’s experience and emphasizes the need to view psychological aspects of health and wellbeing within the interpersonal contexts of the wider family and community networks in which they are located (Silverstain, 1990). This means looking at an individual’s behavior and how it affects the people he/she interacts with in the family, work place and society at large. Social effects of alcohol include drunken driving, crime, violence, rape, accidents, lost productivity etc. These effects turn psychological when it causes stress, fights, quarrels, anger, isolation, depression, anxiety, shame etc. Research has shown that alcohol abuse causes so many fights and conflicts which in turn cause resentments, anger and stress on the non-drinking spouse. Marital satisfaction is related strongly to a couple's ability to communicate effectively (Fals-Stewart, 2006), but heavy alcohol use is associated with more negative and hostile communication, more expressions of anger, and less warmth and unity in the relationship (Jacob, Leonard, & Haber, 2001). These factors decrease a couple's satisfaction in their marriage and create greater tension. A rift in the marital communication pattern almost always occurs with alcoholism in marriage, as the non-alcoholic spouse may pull away from the alcoholic and vice-versa, or because they lose their skills and ability as a couple to communicate or too much resentment and unresolved conflict has accumulated (Jacob et al, 2001) hence affecting the couples’ relationship. Lack of communication in the relationship will lead to loss of emotional and sexual intimacy, abundant