Douglas L Polcin, Elizabeth Mahoney, Meenakshi Subbaraman, Amy A Mericle
{"title":"Giving and Receiving Help among Persons Entering Sober Living Houses.","authors":"Douglas L Polcin, Elizabeth Mahoney, Meenakshi Subbaraman, Amy A Mericle","doi":"10.1080/07347324.2023.2242801","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Giving and receiving help are integral to creating the social environments necessary to support recovery. However, studies assessing the effects of helping behaviors have focused primarily on the benefits derived from giving help to others in 12-step programs and treatment. The current study examined the frequency of giving and receiving help among 188 persons entering sober living houses (SLHs), a type of recovery home that is common in California. Helping was assessed in three contexts: the SLH, 12-step meetings they attended, and interactions with their family and friends. Residents who gave help to others in one of these contexts tended to also receive help in that context. Residents who reported giving or receiving help in one context tended to report giving and receiving help in other contexts. Study findings suggest helping in recovery occurs in a broader, more reciprocal manner than currently conceptualized. Studies should address how giving and receiving help in different contexts affects recovery outcomes. Research is also needed to describe the determinants of giving and receiving help. Considerations for facilitating help among SLH residents are described.</p>","PeriodicalId":45949,"journal":{"name":"Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly","volume":"41 1","pages":"488-503"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6000,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10655961/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07347324.2023.2242801","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2023/7/31 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"SUBSTANCE ABUSE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Giving and receiving help are integral to creating the social environments necessary to support recovery. However, studies assessing the effects of helping behaviors have focused primarily on the benefits derived from giving help to others in 12-step programs and treatment. The current study examined the frequency of giving and receiving help among 188 persons entering sober living houses (SLHs), a type of recovery home that is common in California. Helping was assessed in three contexts: the SLH, 12-step meetings they attended, and interactions with their family and friends. Residents who gave help to others in one of these contexts tended to also receive help in that context. Residents who reported giving or receiving help in one context tended to report giving and receiving help in other contexts. Study findings suggest helping in recovery occurs in a broader, more reciprocal manner than currently conceptualized. Studies should address how giving and receiving help in different contexts affects recovery outcomes. Research is also needed to describe the determinants of giving and receiving help. Considerations for facilitating help among SLH residents are described.
期刊介绍:
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly is an exciting professional journal for clinicians working with persons who are alcoholic and their families. Designed to bridge the gap between research journals and information for the general public, it addresses the specific concerns of professional alcoholism counselors, social workers, psychologists, physicians, clergy, nurses, employee assistance professionals, and others who provide direct services to persons who are alcoholic. The journal features articles specifically related to the treatment of alcoholism, highlighting new and innovative approaches to care, describing clinical problems and solutions, and detailing practical, unique approaches to intervention and therapy.