Caregiving through Substance Use Disorders Lab (CSUD Lab)

The CSUD lab examines the unique stressors and experiences of caregivers as they care for a child or a loved one with a substance use disorder (SUD). When a young adult develops a substance use disorder (SUD), a parent often assumes a caregiving role, and experiences burdens associated with this off-time life event that delays the typical launching process (Kaur, Mahajan, Deepti, & Singh, 2018).Young adults (age 18-30) face the challenge of emotionally and financially launching from their family of origin (Carter & McGoldrick, 1999). However, the presence of a chronic, relapsing health condition such as a SUD may stymie this launching process as a family member assumes a caregiving role (Kaur, Mahajan, Deepti, & Singh, 2018). Parents are crucial facilitators of their young adult children's care, and provide pragmatic and emotional support to their children (Russell & Guite, 2020).  Caregivers of SUD loved ones often face financial, emotional, physical and social challenges as they provide care to their loved one, and therefore warrant attention as a population of study in their own right (Russell & Guite, 2020).

Recent empirical publications of the CSUD lab have focused on mother's experiences and reactions to having a young adult child with a SUD, mother's experiences of interacting with the SUD treatment system, college student perceptions of their substance use behavior and parent relationships, co-morbidity among eating disorders and SUDs, and financial stress associated with caregiving for a SUD loved one. We have also produced papers that have focused on the role of the family in treatment for young adult substance users. The overarching goal of this lab is to develop, test and implement a mindfulness-based support intervention for caregivers of young adults with SUDs. The CSUD lab is directed by Dr. Carissa D'Aniello, Assistant Professor in the Department of Community, Family and Addiction Sciences, and Couple, Marriage and Family Therapy Program and Dr. Rachel Tambling in the Human Development and Family Studies Program at the University of Connecticut.

Short Biography

Current Position

Dr. D'Aniello is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community, Family and Addiction Sciences, and Couple, Marriage and Family Therapy Program at Texas Tech University. Prior to this appointment in 2018, Dr. D'Aniello served as an Assistant Professor of Couple and Family Therapy at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for three years. Dr. D'Aniello has studied couple and family help-seeking behaviors and factors that promote client retention and engagement in therapy services for approximately 10 years.

Education and Training

Dr. D'Aniello earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Siena College in 2005, a Master's of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fairfield University in 2010, and a PhD in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy from Virginia Tech in 2015.

Mentoring Approach

I aim to provide diverse experiences to emerging researchers. I enjoy working with new researchers who want to become involved in research. I enjoy watching students grow to enjoy the research process. Students who work on my research will meet with me and my senior students to become familiarized with our projects, and can expect to complete between one and five hours of independent work per week to support these projects. Students are expected to report on their progress weekly. In return, students often earn authorship on at least one published paper and conference presentation per year. I am also happy to provide letters of recommendation for students to support their applications for employment and graduate programs.

Origins

 I am originally from New Haven, Connecticut. I am and will always be a New England girl at heart. I enjoy crisp fall weather and snow. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family including my husband, our 4 year old daughter and our dog.

Current Research Projects

A Needs Assessment for Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Group Treatment for Parents of Young Adults with Substance Use Disorders

We are in the final stages of analyzing quantitative data collected from online forums designed to support caregivers of young adults with SUDs. These data focus on identifying the unique needs and stressors of caregivers of young adults with SUDs, as well as their unique treatment needs. 

A Pilot Study of PRISM Mindfulness Based Family Groups for Parents of Young Adults with Substance Use Disorders. 

We are currently in the early stages of adapting and testing the PRISM protocol for caregivers of young adults with SUDs and their unique needs. Engaging parents of young adults with SUDs in a treatment group and a treatment as usual group with pre, and post intervention assessment will demonstrate improvement in awareness of the emotional impairment associated with their caregiving role, improved emotion regulation, improved ability to tolerate their child's distress and their own. 

Measurement Development of the Internalized Stigma of Substance Abuse Scale (ISSA). 

My colleagues and I are adapting the Internalized Stigma of Substance Abuse Scale (ISSA; Luoma et al., 2008) for caregivers of young adults with SUDs. The ISSA is a 29-item self-report measure developed to assess internalization of stigmatizing attitudes toward substance using adults. The measure was adapted from the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (Ritsher et al., 2003) to measure lived experience of stigma related to substance abuse. Stigma refers to the dehumanization of an individual based on their social identity or participation in activities perceived as undesirable (Goffman, 1963). A person who is stigmatized is considered less important, devalued, or inferior in some way. Exposure to stigmatizing attitudes through social experiences can lead to the internalization of these beliefs by members of a stigmatized group (Ritsher, Otilingam, and Grajales, 2003). Some (e.g. Luoma et al., 2007) suggest that there are three conceptually different forms of stigma, including enacted stigma, perceived stigma, and self-stigma. Self-stigma, that is, negative thoughts, feelings, and beliefs related to personal identification with a stigmatized group (Luoma et al., 2007) can be particularly damaging.

Recent Publications

D'Aniello, C., Tambling, R., Russell, B., Smith, M. (Revise & Resubmit). Predictive factors of college student willingness to alter substance use behavior: An investigation of the role of parental relationships. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly.

D'Aniello, C., Tambling, R., *Smith, M., *Jones, E., *Silva, M.*Garcia, M. (Revise & Resubmit). Every time the phone rings, my heart stops”: A grounded theory of mothers' emotional and behavioral processes related to having a young adult child with a substance use disorder". Family Process.

D'Aniello, C., Tambling, R., *Smith, M., *Jones, E., *Silva, M.*Garcia, M (In Review). Mothers' Experiences of Navigating the SUD Treatment System with their Young Adult Child. American Journal of Family Therapy.

Smith, M. & D'Aniello, C., (In Review). The Effect of Substance Use Disorders and Disordered Eating on College Student Perception of Parental Attachment. Contemporary Family Therapy. 

Tambling, R., Russell, B, & D'Aniello, C. (In Review). Where is the Family in Young Adult Substance Use Treatment?  The Case for Systemic Family Therapy for Young Adults with Substance Use Disorders. International Journal of Mental Health & Addiction.

Tambling, R., D'Aniello, C., Russell, B. (In Review). Financial Anxiety among Caregiving Parents of Adult Children with a Substance Use Disorder. Journal of Family and Economic Issues.