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Original Article

Factors Influencing Recovery from Different Addictions

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Pages 469-492 | Published online: 11 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

This study deals with environmental and behavioural factors that play a role in the recovery from addictive behaviours. Two primary questions are asked: To what extent the factors influential in resolving addictive behaviours and the means of maintaining the change differ by addictions, and to what extent the former factors predict the latter? Subjects (n=76, 38 women) who had managed to resolve their addiction and maintain the change for more than three years were recruited by newspaper ads. The sample included addictions to alcohol (26), multiple substances (16), nicotine (15), binge eating (11), and other (8), which included sex, gambling and benzodiazepine. The mean time of recovery was 9.3 years. Two types of factor analyses were used to define factors that played a role in resolving the problem and in maintaining the change. Seven change factors and four maintenance factors were supported by both methods. The change factors were: Tiring Out, Love, 12 Steps, Revival, Family, Social Consequences, and Peer Group change. The maintenance factors were: Self-Control, Professional Treatment, 12 Steps and Spirituality, as well as Social and Cognitive Coping. Significant (p<.05) addiction-related differences appeared in four change factors and three maintenance factors, thus displaying the differing routes to recovery in different addictions.

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