Measuring In-Group and Out-Group Helping in Communal Living: Helping and Substance Abuse Recovery

Overview

Journal J Groups Addict Recover

Specialty Health Services

Date 2010 Aug 7

PMID 20689660

Citations 8

Authors

Judah J Viola

Joseph R Ferrari

Margaret I Davis

Leonard A Jason

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

With a national U.S. sample of communal-living residents in substance abuse recovery, the tendency to help members inside and/or outside their community was examined. Study 1 (n = 670) developed of the Communal Living In-Group Helping Scale to distinguish helping directed toward housemates vs. others. Study 2 (n = 419) used this communal helping measure and a general altruism scale to explore gender, ethnicity, and 12-Step sponsorship related to in-group (housemates) and out-group (others in the community) behaviors. Results revealed significant sex differences and significantly higher helping for both men and women was reported among 12-Step sponsors along two dimensions. Implications focused on gender-related differences in social helping interactions and in-group formation in recovery communities.

Citing Articles

Giving and Receiving Help among Persons Entering Sober Living Houses.

Polcin D, Mahoney E, Subbaraman M, Mericle A Alcohol Treat Q. 2023; 41(4):488-503.

PMID: 37982020 PMC: 10655961. DOI: 10.1080/07347324.2023.2242801.

Mediating Effects of Emotional Support Reception and Provision on the Relationship between Group Interaction and Psychological Well-Being: A Study of Young Patients.

Ngai S, Cheung C, Mo J, Chau S, Yu E, Wang L Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(22).

PMID: 34831863 PMC: 8625224. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182212110.

Psychometric Properties of the Recovery Home Environment Scale.

Polcin D, Mahoney E, Mericle A Subst Use Misuse. 2021; 56(8):1161-1168.

PMID: 33870847 PMC: 8159864. DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2021.1910710.

Tightly Bound: The Relationship of Network Clustering Coefficients and Reincarceration at Three Therapeutic Communities.

Warren K, Campbell B, Cranmer S J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2020; 81(5):673-680.

PMID: 33028481 PMC: 8076490.

Narrating the journey of sustained recovery from substance use disorder.

Stokes M, Schultz P, Alpaslan A Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. 2018; 13(1):35.

PMID: 30261888 PMC: 6161338. DOI: 10.1186/s13011-018-0167-0.

References

Oswald P . Subtle sex bias in empathy and helping behavior. Psychol Rep. 2000; 87(2):545-51. DOI: 10.2466/pr0.2000.87.2.545. View

Kahn M, FUA C . Counselor training as a treatment for alcoholism: the helper therapy principle in action. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 1992; 38(3):208-14. DOI: 10.1177/002076409203800304. View

Brown S, Nesse R, Vinokur A, Smith D . Providing social support may be more beneficial than receiving it: results from a prospective study of mortality. Psychol Sci. 2003; 14(4):320-7. DOI: 10.1111/1467-9280.14461. View

Huselid R, Self E, Gutierres S . Predictors of successful completion of a halfway-house program for chemically-dependent women. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 1991; 17(1):89-101. DOI: 10.3109/00952999108992812. View

Mertens J, Weisner C . Predictors of substance abuse treatment retention among women and men in an HMO. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2000; 24(10):1525-33. View

Jaffee S, Hyde J . Gender differences in moral orientation: a meta-analysis. Psychol Bull. 2000; 126(5):703-26. DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.126.5.703. View

Davis M, Jason L . Sex differences in social support and self-efficacy within a recovery community. Am J Community Psychol. 2006; 36(3-4):259-74. DOI: 10.1007/s10464-005-8625-z. View

Wells K, Klap R, Koike A, Sherbourne C . Ethnic disparities in unmet need for alcoholism, drug abuse, and mental health care. Am J Psychiatry. 2001; 158(12):2027-32. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.158.12.2027. View

Bishop P, Jason L, Ferrari J . A survival analysis of communal-living, self-help, addiction recovery participants. Am J Community Psychol. 1999; 26(6):803-21. DOI: 10.1023/a:1022241712065. View

10.

Zemore S, Kaskutas L, Ammon L . In 12-step groups, helping helps the helper. Addiction. 2004; 99(8):1015-23. DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2004.00782.x. View

11.

Ferrari J, Jason L, Sasser K, Davis M, Olson B . Creating a home to promote recovery: the physical environments of Oxford House. J Prev Interv Community. 2006; 31(1-2):27-39. DOI: 10.1300/J005v31n01_03. View

12.

Wallston K, McMinn M, KATAHN M, Pleas J . The helper-therapy principle applied to weight management specialists. J Community Psychol. 1982; 11(1):58-66. DOI: 10.1002/1520-6629(198301)11:1<58::aid-jcop2290110106>3.0.co;2-p. View

13.

Roberts L, Salem D, Rappaport J, Toro P, Luke D, Seidman E . Giving and receiving help: interpersonal transactions in mutual-help meetings and psychosocial adjustment of members. Am J Community Psychol. 2000; 27(6):841-68. DOI: 10.1023/a:1022214710054. View

14.

Eagly A, Crowley M . Gender and helping behavior: A meta-analytic review of the social psychological literature. Psychol Bull. 2024; 100(3):283-308. DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.100.3.283. View

15.

Crape B, Latkin C, Laris A, Knowlton A . The effects of sponsorship in 12-step treatment of injection drug users. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2002; 65(3):291-301. DOI: 10.1016/s0376-8716(01)00175-2. View

16.

McLellan A, Kushner H, Metzger D, Peters R, Smith I, Grissom G . The Fifth Edition of the Addiction Severity Index. J Subst Abuse Treat. 1992; 9(3):199-213. DOI: 10.1016/0740-5472(92)90062-s. View

17.

Jason L, Olson B, Ferrari J, Lo Sasso A . Communal housing settings enhance substance abuse recovery. Am J Public Health. 2006; 96(10):1727-9. PMC: 1586125. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2005.070839. View