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Mediators of effectiveness in dual-focus self-help groups
Stephen Magura1, Edward L Knight, Howard S Vogel
1National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., New York, New York, USA. magura@ndri.org
The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
|May 27, 2003
Summary
Participation in 12-step groups like Double Trouble in Recovery (DTR) improves outcomes. Common factors (locus of control, sociability) and unique factors (spirituality, hope) mediate these effects, particularly for health behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Research
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- 12-step group participation is increasingly studied for effectiveness.
- Processes mediating 12-step outcomes require further examination.
- Both common and unique therapeutic factors are proposed mediators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if common (locus of control, sociability) and unique (spirituality, hope) factors mediate 12-step group affiliation effects.
- To examine outcomes including drug/alcohol abstinence and health promoting behavior.
- To investigate these processes within Double Trouble in Recovery (DTR) members.
Main Methods:
- Recruited members from 24 DTR groups in New York City.
- Followed participants for 1 year.
- Assessed 12-step group affiliation, mediating factors, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Greater 12-step group affiliation correlated with better outcomes.
- Internal locus of control and sociability mediated effects on both abstinence and health behaviors.
- Spirituality and hope mediated effects only on health promoting behavior.
Conclusions:
- Therapeutic factors in 12-step programs leverage social learning principles.
- Understanding these mechanisms can enhance professional acceptance of 12-step interventions.
- Internal locus of control and sociability are key mediators for DTR members.