title: Is General or Alcohol-Specific Perceived Social Support Associated with Depression among Adults in Substance Use Treatment?
abstract: Alcohol use disorders are among the most common mental health disorders in the world and incur considerable costs for individuals and society. Previous research has demonstrated that perceived social support (PSS) may decrease rates of depression and relapse in individuals seeking treatment for alcohol use. The current study developed and investigated a self-report measure for perceived social support for sobriety from alcohol (PSSA) in a sample of men and women in residential treatment for substance use (N = 231), and examined the relationship between general or alcohol-specific perceived social support and depression. Analyses demonstrated sound factor structure, reliability, and validity for the PSSA. Additionally, the new measure of PSS for alcohol sobriety was negatively and uniquely associated with depression, even after controlling for general PSS, enacted social support, and negative social interactions. Overall, findings demonstrated that the PSSA was associated with fewer depressive symptoms, even after accounting for other known correlates of depression. Future research should replicate and extend these findings and examine whether this new measure predicts abstinence from alcohol following treatment.
authors.affiliation: a Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology , Ohio University , Athens , OH , USA.
authors.forename: Ryan C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Shorey
authors.affiliation: b Graduate Student, Department of Psychology , Ohio University , Athens , OH , USA.
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.affiliation: b Graduate Student, Department of Psychology , Ohio University , Athens , OH , USA.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Haynes
authors.affiliation: b Graduate Student, Department of Psychology , Ohio University , Athens , OH , USA.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.affiliation: c Graduate Student, Department of Psychology , University of Tennessee , Knoxville , TN , USA.
authors.forename: JoAnna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elmquist
authors.affiliation: d Clinical Director , Cornerstone of Recovery , Louisville , TN , USA.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: e Professor, Department of Psychology , University of Tennessee , Knoxville , TN , USA.
authors.forename: Gregory L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Stuart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report; D012944:Social Support; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*
keywords: Alcohol; depression; factor analysis; social support