Early Motivation, Well-being, and Treatment Engagement of Chronic Substance Users Undergoing Treatment in a Therapeutic Community Setting

Abstract

This study explored the predictors, role and effects of motivation in chronic substance users as they began residential treatment, using the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) framework. Testing of the SDT model involved a sample of 350 clients from six therapeutic communities across Australia who completed a battery of standardized measures. It was hypothesized that clients with a more autonomous motivational attitude toward treatment would be more likely to engage in the therapeutic process and would report more psychological well-being in the initial stages of the therapeutic process. It was also anticipated that clients who felt supported in an autonomous fashion by therapeutic staff would be more autonomously motivated with regard to being in treatment. Findings provided support for the hypothesized effects.

RÉSUMÉ

Début de la motivation, le bien-être et l’engagement des usagers sous traitement chronique d’une substance dans un communauté thérapeutique.

Cette étude explore les facteurs prédictifs, le rôle et les effets de la motivation chez les toxicomanes chroniques lorsqu’ils commencent leur traitement résidentiel, tout en utilisant le cadre de la Théorie de L’autodétermination. Les essais de la Théorie de L’autodétermination sur un group de 350 clients provenant de six communautés thérapeutiques dans toute l’Australie qui ont déjà complété une batterie de mesures standardisées. On a supposé que les clients avec une attitude plus autonome de motivation envers le traitement serait plus susceptibles de s’engager dans le processus thérapeutique et rendrait compte plus le bien-être psychologique dans les étapes initiales du processus thérapeutique. Il est aussi prévu que les clients qui se sentaient soutenu de façon autonome par le personnel thérapeutique seraient plus motivés de manière autonome en ce qui concerne le traitement. Les résultats fournis supportent les effets proposés.

Mots-clés: soutien à l’autonomie, la compétence, la motivation, l’engagement au traitement, bien-être psychologique, Théorie de L’autodétermination

RESUMEN

Motivación temprana, bienestar y tratamiento en adictos a sustancias en clínicas de recuperación en comunidades terapéuticas.

Este estudio buscó los pronósticos, función y efectos de la motivación en adictos a sustancias de las clínicas de recuperación cuando inician algún tratamiento usando el esquema de la Teoría de la Autodeterminación (SDT). El modelo de la SDT se probó en una muestra de 350 pacientes de 6 clínicas o residencias de recuperación en diferentes lugares de Australia, quienes completaron una batería de procedimientos estandarizados.

Según la hipótesis, los pacientes que se auto-motivan para seguir el tratamiento, se comprometen con gusto en el proceso terapéutico y pueden mostrar más beneficio psicológico en las primeras etapas. También se sabe que los pacientes que sienten el apoyo autónomo del personal terapéutico pueden auto-motivarse con relación al tratamiento. Los resultados del estudio apoyan los efectos esperados en la hipótesis.

Keywords :

• autonomy support
• competence
• motivation
• treatment engagement
• psychological well-being
• Self-Determination Theory

THE AUTHORS

Peter Creed is Professor of Psychology at the School of Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia. He has been a staff member there since 1997. Prior to this he was a practitioner and worked for the Australian government employment agency. His research interests cross the two related fields of occupational psychology and career psychology, and include the areas of school-to-work transition, career development, adolescent and adult employment/unemployment, and occupational well-being. He is a member of the Griffith University Behavioural Basis of Health Research Centre. His teaching responsibilities at the university include organizational psychology, career development, and psychometrics.

Stefanie Klag, Ph.D., is a researcher and practicing psychologist at the School of Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast. Her research interests focus on substance use and treatment outcomes, child abuse, childhood trauma, and family intervention programs. In her spare time Stefanie likes to read and dance.

Frances O’Callaghan, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the School of Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast. Her research interests include substance use, attitude-behaviour relationships, and sleep disorders. Frances loves spending quality time with her family and dogs.