Charting recovery pathways in Sweden: The role of time, gender and meaningful activities

Aim: To explore the influence of gender and time in addiction recovery on engagement in meaningful activities and the reduction of harmful behaviours among the recovery population in Sweden. Methods: Participants were recruited through social media, recovery and treatment services, and snowballing, resulting in a sample of 110 individuals who consider themselves in addiction recovery for more than 3 months. Bivariate analyses were used to explore gender differences in relation to personal characteristics and current utilization of recovery support. The relationship with time in recovery was examined for three recovery stages (early (5 years)) in relation to meaningful engagement and detrimental activities. The Strengths and Barriers Recovery Scale (SABRS) was used to calculate changes in recovery-related well being. Specifically, we assessed the overall difference between reported strengths and barriers - referred to as the "SABRS change score" - and compared these by gender and stage of recovery. Results: The data indicate variations in recovery experiences across genders and stages of recovery, with women reporting more strengths in recovery and a greater change in recovery strengths from active addiction to recovery. The findings affirm the progressive character of recovery, illustrating how prolonged periods in recovery correlate with decreased negative activities (barriers) and increased meaningful activities (recovery strengths). Conclusions: These findings provide significant insights into recovery pathways in Sweden. As well as providing empirical support for defining addiction recovery as a process over time that is associated with enhanced well being and increased (community) engagement and citizenship, recovery support services that sustain recovery in the long-term will result in reduced harmful behaviours and increases in meaningful activities.