Friends, Family, and Alcohol Abuse: an Examination of General and Alcohol-specific Social Support

Overview

Journal Am J Addict

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2007 Mar 17

PMID 17364422

Citations 54

Authors

David R Groh

Leonard A Jason

Margaret I Davis

Bradley D Olson

Joseph R Ferrari

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Social support may be considered from several different dimensions. While general social support promotes well-being, specific social support is tied to particular functions, such as alcohol use. Not only may the form of social support vary, but also the source (ie, friends vs. family). This study investigated the impact of general and specific support for alcohol use from family versus friends on alcohol use among 897 U.S. residents of abstinent communal-living settings (Oxford Houses). Results indicated that general support from friends and length of stay in Oxford House significantly predicted less alcohol use. Implications for alcohol recovery are discussed.

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