The Relationship Between Chronic Fatigue and Dispositional Optimism in Codependent Individuals
https://doi.org/10.25016/2782-652X-2025-0-96-27-35
Abstract
Relevance. Codependency is now becoming an independent unit of not only psychological, but also clinical practice. Codependent individuals frequently experience a decline in overall well-being, which can manifest as chronic fatigue. However, due to the heightened tension of psychological defense mechanisms, they more often seek help with concerns related to significant others while ignoring their own needs. The aim is to examine the relationship between chronic fatigue and dispositional optimism in codependent individuals.
Methodology. The research was conducted at The Russian Christian Academy for the Humanities named after Fyodor Dostoevsky, in several support communities for relatives of individuals with addictions, and via the online platform Google Forms. A total of 253 participants aged 18 to 71 were assessed using clinical-psychological methods. Codependency levels were measured using the Codependency Relationship Scale (J.L. Fischer, L. Spann). To determine the degree of chronic fatigue of the participants the method “Degree of chronic fatigue” (A.B. Leonova, I.V. Shishkina) was used. Expectations regarding the future were evaluated with the “Dispositional optimism test” (T.O. Gordeeva, O.A. Sychev, E.N. Osin). Empirical data ware analyzed using descriptive statistics
and mathematical statistical data processing methods.
Results and discussion. The study established that codependency level, chronic fatigue, and dispositional optimism are interrelated. Higher levels of codependency correspond to more pronounced symptoms of chronic fatigue, accompanied by a decrease in dispositional optimism.
Conclusion. The results may be applied in the development and planning of clinical-psychological intervention programs for individuals with codependency, with an emphasis on early identification and prevention.
About the Author
Yu. V. Stryapukhina
The Russian Christian Academy for the Humanities named after Fyodor Dostoevsky
Россия
Россия
Yulia Vital’evna Stryapukhina – senior lecturer, Psychology Department
15, Fontanka Emb., St. Petersburg, 191023, Russia
References
1. Bashmanov V.V., Kalinichenko O.Ju. Fenomen sozavisimosti: mediko-psiho-social’nyj aspekt [The phenomenon of codependency: medical-psycho-social aspect]. Vestnik novyh medicinskih tehnologij [Bulletin of new medical technologies]. 2015; (1): 5–3. http://www.medtsu.tula.ru/VNMT/Bulletin/E2015-1/5093.pdf (In Russ.)
2. Bocharov V.V., Shishkova A.M., Ipatova K.A. Vzaimosvjaz’ klinicheskih i social’no-demograficheskih faktorov s projavlenijami jemocional’nogo vygoranija u rodstvennikov bol’nyh s addiktivnymi rasstrojstvami [The relationship of clinical and socio-demographic factors with manifestations of emotional burnout in relatives of patients with addictive disorders]. Medicinskaja psihologija v Rossii [Medical psychology in Russia]. 2019; 11(6(59)) http://mprj.ru/archiv_global/2019_6_59/nomer09.php (In Russ.)
3. Berdichevskij A.A., Padun M.A., Gagarina M.A. Aprobacija modificirovannoj versii metodiki «Shkala sozavisimosti Spenn-Fisher» [Testing of a modified version of the Spenn-Fischer Codependency Scale]. Klinicheskaja i special’naja psihologija [Clinical and Special psychology]. 2019; 8(1): 215–234. DOI: 10.17759/psycljn.2019080113 (In Russ.)
4. Gabdreeva G.Sh., Prohorov A.O. Praktikum po psihologii sostojanij: uchebnoe posobie [A workshop on the psychology of states: a textbook]. Ed. prof. A.O. Prohorova. Sankt-Peterburg, 2004: 480. (In Russ.)
5. Gordeeva T.O. Razrabotka russkojazychnoj versii testa dispozicionnogo optimizma (LOT) [Development of a Russian-language version of the dispositional optimism test (LOT)]. Psihologicheskaja diagnostika [Psychological diagnostics]. 2010; (2): 36–64. (In Russ.)
6. Davydova M.O., Ostapenko R.I. Issledovanie svjazi optimizma i sovladajushhego povedenija v period rannej vzroslosti [A study of the relationship between optimism and coping behavior in early adulthood]. Perspektivy nauki i obrazovanija [Prospects of Science and Education]. 2016; 3(21): 76–81. https://psyjournals.ru/journals/science_and_education/archive/2016_n3/science_and_education_2016_n3_Davydova_Ostapenko.pdf (In Russ.)
7. Kirillova D.S. Vlijanie sozavisimyh otnoshenij na osobennosti vremennoj perspektivy pri sostojanii alkogol’noj zavisimosti [The influence of codependent relationships on the features of the time perspective in the state of alcohol dependence]. Kollekcija gumanitarnyh issledovanij. Jelektronnyj nauchnyj zhurnal [The Collection of Humanitarian Researches. Electronic scientific journal]. 2019; (1(16)): 41–49. https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/vliyaniesozavisimyh-otnosheniy-na-osobennosti-vremennoy-perspektivy-pri-sostoyanii-alkogolnoy-zavisimosti/viewer (In Russ.)
8. Kuftjak E.V., Behter A.A., Filatova O.A. [et al.]. Prediktory proaktivnogo preodolenija na jetape rannej vzroslosti: kross-kul’turnoe issledovanie [Predictors of proactive coping in early adulthood: a cross-cultural study]. Klinicheskaja i special’naja psihologija [Clinical and Special psychology]. 2023; 12(2): 164–191. DOI: 10.17759/cpse.2023120208 (In Russ.)
9. Mendelevich V.D., Sadykova R.G. Psihologija zavisimoj lichnosti, ili podrostok v okruzhenii soblaznov [The psychology of a dependent personality, or a teenager surrounded by temptations]. Kazan’; Joshkar-Ola, 2002. 240 p. (In Russ.)
10. Merinov A.V., Shustov D.I., Fedotov I.A. Sovremennye vzgljady na fenomen sozavisimogo povedenija pri alkogol’noj zavisimosti (obzor literaturnyh dannyh) [Modern views on the phenomenon of codependent behavior in alcohol addiction (review of literature data)]. Rossijskij mediko-biologicheskij vestnik imeni akademika I.P. Pavlova [Russian Medical and Biological Bulletin named after academician I.P. Pavlov]. 2011; (3): 136–141 https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/sovremennye-vzglyady-na-fenomen-sozavisimogo-povedeniya-pri-alkogolnoy-zavisimosti-obzor-literaturnyh-dannyh/viewer (In Russ.)
11. Metodicheskie materialy k programmnomu kompleksu dlja psihologicheskih issledovanij Longitjud [Methodological materials for the software package for psychological research Longitudinal]. Ed. S.A. Miroshnikova. Sankt-Peterburg, 2018: 176. (In Russ.)
12. Perminova Ju.A. Samorazrushajushhee povedenie u suprug muzhchin, stradajushhih alkogol’noj zavisimost’ju [Self-destructive behavior in the spouses of men suffering from alcohol addiction]. Zdravoohranenie Jugry: opyt i innovacii [Ugra healthcare: experience and innovations]. 2017; (3): 70–72. https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/samorazrushayuschee-povedenie-u-suprug-muzhchin-stradayuschih-alkogolnoy-zavisimostyu/viewer (In Russ.)
13. Posohova S.T., Vahrusheva I.A., Strjapuhina Ju.V. Dinamika komponentov sozavisimosti u uchastnikov programmy kliniko-psihologicheskoj pomoshhi «Solnechnyj krug» [Dynamics of codependency components among participants of the Sunny Circle clinical and psychological assistance program]. Perspektivy klinicheskoj psihologii v medicine i obrazovanii [Perspectives of clinical psychology in medicine and education]. Ed. V.M. Goljanicha, E.R. Isaevoj. Sankt-Peterburg, 2024: 236–246. (In Russ.)
14. Rodina O.N. Lichnostnye deformacii pri razvitii sostojanija hronicheskogo utomlenija [Personal deformations in the development of chronic fatigue]. Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta. Serija 14. Psihologija [Bulletin of the Moscow University]. 2019; (1): 123–140. (In Russ.)
15. Strjapuhina Ju. V., Posohova S. T. Problema sozavisimosti v sovremennyh psihologicheskih issledovanijah [The problem of codependency in modern psychological research]. SibSkript [SibScript]. 2025; 27(2): 247–266. DOI: 10.21603/sibscript-2025-27-2-247-266 (In Russ.)
16. Shirokaja M.Ju., Kobzeva D.M. Psihologicheskaja samoreguljacija pri raznyh urovnjah hronicheskogo utomlenija [Psychological self-regulation at different levels of chronic fatigue]. Psihologija segodnja: aktual’nye issledovanija i perspektivy. Materialy Vserossijskogo psihologicheskogo foruma [Psychology today: current research and prospects. Materials of the All-Russian Psychological Forum.]. Ekaterinburg, 2022: 921–925. (In Russ.)
17. Bargiel-Matusiewicz K., Krzyszkowska A. Dispositional optimism and coping with pain. European Journal of Medical Research. 2009; 14(4): 271–274. DOI: 10.1186/2047-783X-14-S4-271 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3521344/.
18. Fischer J., Spann L., Crawford D. Measuring codependency. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly. 1991; 8(1): 87–99. DOI: 10.1300/J020V08N01_06.
19. Happ Z., Bodу-Varga Z., Bandi S.A. [et al.]. How codependency affects dyadic coping, relationship perception and life satisfaction. Curr Psychol. 2023; (42): 15688–15695 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-02875-9.
20. Knapek E, Kuritбrné Szabó I. A kodependencia fogalma, tünetei és a kialakulásában szerepet játszó tényezők [The concept, the symptoms and the etiological factors of codependency]. Psychiatr Hung. 2014; 29(1): 56–64. Hungarian. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24670293/.
21. Morgan O.J., Litzke C.H. Family interventions in substance abuse: current best practices. Routledge, 2012: 240.
Review
For citations:
Stryapukhina Yu.V. The Relationship Between Chronic Fatigue and Dispositional Optimism in Codependent Individuals. Bulletin of psychotherapy. 2025;(96):27-35. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.25016/2782-652X-2025-0-96-27-35
Views:
11
JATS XML
Email this article 