A factor analytic study of influences on patterns of help-seeking among treated and untreated alcohol dependent persons.
Influences on seeking help from professional alcohol treatment and from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) were investigated using problem drinkers (N = 167) with different help-seeking experiences (no assistance, AA only, or treatment plus AA) and current drinking statuses (sustained abstinence for > 2 years or active problem drinking). Depending on their help-seeking experiences, participants rated barriers to or reasons for seeking help from treatment and AA, which were factor analyzed. Common impediments to help-seeking included privacy concerns and participants' beliefs that they could solve their problem on their own and that it was not serious enough to seek help. Common reasons for help-seeking included social and other functional problems related to drinking. There were also influences unique to treatment (e.g., cost) and to AA (e.g., group format). Help-seeking factors did not vary by drinking status. The implications for increasing help-seeking among problem drinkers are discussed.
Tucker
Jalie A
JA
Department of Health Behavior, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Public Health, 227 RPHB, 1530 Third Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. jtucker@uab.edu
Vuchinich
Rudy E
RE
Rippens
Paula D
PD
D000436:Alcoholics Anonymous; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States