Giving and Receiving Help Among Persons Entering Sober Living Houses

Giving and receiving help are integral to creating the social environments necessary to support recovery. However, studies assessing the effects of helping behaviors have focused primarily on the benefits derived from giving help to others in 12-step programs and treatment. The current study examine...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Alcoholism treatment quarterly 2023, Vol.41 (4), p.488-503
Main Authors: Polcin, Douglas L., Mahoney, Elizabeth, Subbaraman, Meenakshi, Mericle, Amy A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Helping
Helping behavior
recovery capital
recovery home
Sober living house
social model
Social support
Substance abuse treatment
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Giving and receiving help are integral to creating the social environments necessary to support recovery. However, studies assessing the effects of helping behaviors have focused primarily on the benefits derived from giving help to others in 12-step programs and treatment. The current study examined the frequency of giving and receiving help among 188 persons entering sober living houses (SLHs), a type of recovery home that is common in California. Helping was assessed in three contexts: the SLH, 12-step meetings they attended, and interactions with their family and friends. Residents who gave help to others in one of these contexts tended to also receive help in that context. Residents who reported giving or receiving help in one context tended to report giving and receiving help in other contexts. Study findings suggest helping in recovery occurs in a broader, more reciprocal manner than currently conceptualized. Studies should address how giving and receiving help in different contexts affects recovery outcomes. Research is also needed to describe the determinants of giving and receiving help. Considerations for facilitating help among SLH residents are described.
ISSN:0734-7324
1544-4538
DOI:10.1080/07347324.2023.2242801