Latinos and Latinas in communal settings: a grounded theory of recovery.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 Latino/a residents of a mutual help residential recovery program (Oxford House) in order to elicit their experiences of the program's therapeutic elements. A model of recovery emerged from the analysis including several themes supported by existing literature: personal motivation and readiness to change, mutual help, sober environment, social support, and accountability. Consistent with a broad conceptualization of recovery, outcomes included abstinence, new life skills, and increased self-esteem/sense of purpose. Most participants were the only Latino/a in their Houses; however, cultural differences did not emerge as salient issues. The study's findings highlight potential therapeutic aspects of mutual-help communal recovery programs and suggest that English-speaking, bicultural Latinos/as have positive experiences and may benefit from participating in these programs.
Alvarez
Josefina
J
Adler School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, IL 60601, USA.
Jason
Leonard A
LA
Davis
Margaret I
MI
Olson
Bradley D
BD
Ferrari
Joseph R
JR
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012114:Residential Treatment; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012941:Social Responsibility