The role of social cohesion among residents in a therapeutic community.
According to the Therapeutic Community (TC) treatment approach, social affiliation with the drug-free peer community is the basis for patients initiating therapeutic change. A total of 322 TC residents were assessed with regard to social affiliation, acceptance of TC philosophy, perceived benefit of program components, level of depression, and length of time in treatment. Residents exhibited a higher level of affiliation with TC members than with untreated substance abusers they knew outside the program. Being female, and separated from a spouse, were each associated with a higher level of TC member affiliation. After controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, two variables emerged as unique significant correlates of affiliation: perceived benefit for recovery of TC treatment was associated with greater TC member affiliation, whereas level of depression was inversely correlated. These findings are interpreted in relation to the goals of the TC process and to implications for treatment.
Dermatis
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Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Department of Psychiatry, New York University Medical School/Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, NY 10016, USA. hd7@nyu.edu
Salke
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Galanter
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Bunt
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012114:Residential Treatment; D012944:Social Support; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D013808:Therapeutic Community