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Will and skill - an exploratory study of substance abusers' attitudes towards lifestyle change
1Addiction Research Group, Department of Social Work, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden. mats.ekendahl@socarb.su.se
Background/Aims:
This exploratory study focuses on attitudes towards lifestyle change among untreated, voluntarily and compulsorily treated Swedish substance abusers (n = 97).
Methods:
Attitudes were measured with scales on e.g. problem recognition, treatment readiness and the time perspective of future orientation. Subjects were categorised into 4 'addict types' according to their viewpoint on changing substance use habits, i.e. 'less change-willing': non-addicts (n = 16) and consonant addicts (n = 32); 'more change-willing': dissonant (n = 13) and transient addicts (n = 36).
Results:
It was shown that 'less change-willing' subjects had experienced less dependence disorders and expressed less treatment demand and motivation than 'more change-willing' subjects. A general measure of willingness to lifestyle change correlated with future orientation among 'more change-willing' subjects.
Conclusions:
The study suggests that individuals' time perspectives ought to be considered when trying to illuminate the process of change and understand what attitudes exercise a positive influence on and are associated with successful lifestyle change efforts. The consistency of substance abusers' motivational structures over time and in different social contexts is discussed.
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