Alcohol and drug abusers' perceived reasons for self-change in Canada and Switzerland: computer-assisted content analysis.
Although many people recover from substance-use associated problems on their own, little is known about this phenomenon. The paper had two objectives: to use a new research method, computer-assisted content analysis, to understand alcohol and drug abusers' perceived reasons for self-change and to undertake a comparative evaluation across substances and cultures to validate previous findings about subjective appraisal processes. Three studies of natural recoveries of alcohol and drug abusers in two countries conducted tape-recorded interviews with 216 respondents. The taped responses were coded based on a content analytic dictionary approach using a computerized content analysis program. All three studies found several processes mediating the decision to change substance use. The computer content analysis confirmed a cognitive appraisal process regardless of the cultural setting or substance. The findings suggest that several procedures might have benefit in clinical interventions.
Sobell
L C
LC
Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33314, USA. sobelll@nova.edu
Klingemann
H K
HK
Toneatto
T
T
Sobell
M B
MB
Agrawal
S
S
Leo
G I
GI
D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D013557:Switzerland; D013695:Temperance / Q000523:psychology*