The influence of posttreatment mutual help group participation on the friendship networks of substance abuse patients.
The effect of 12-step mutual help groups (e.g., Narcotics Anonymous) on members' friendship networks has received little attention. This 1-year longitudinal study examined such effects in a sample of 2,337 male substance abuse inpatients, 57.7% of whom became significantly involved in 12-step activities (e.g., reading program literature, attending meetings) after treatment. An a priori model of the interplay of 12-step involvement) and friendship networks was tested using structural equation modeling, and found to have excellent fit to the data. Twelve-step group involvement after treatment predicted better general friendship characteristics (e.g., number of close friends) and substance abuse-specific friendship characteristics (e.g., proportion of friends who abstain from drugs and alcohol) at follow-up. Results are discussed in terms of how mutual help group involvement benefits patients and how the self-help group evaluation paradigm should be broadened.
Humphreys
K
K
Center for Health Care Evaluation, Veterans Affairs, Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
Noke
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires