Facilitating Comprehensive Assessment of 12-Step Experiences: A Multidimensional Measure of Mutual-Help Activity

Abstract

Existing measures of 12-Step mutual-help activity typically capture only a narrow range of experiences and combine fellowships with explicitly different substance-specific emphases (e.g., Alcoholics vs. Narcotics Anonymous). To help expand our knowledge in this important area, the authors report on the development and use of a comprehensive multidimensional measure of 12-Step experiences in two clinical samples of young adults and adolescents (N = 430). One-week test–retest reliability was verified on a subsample. Results indicated high content validity and reliability across seven dimensions of experience (meeting attendance, meeting participation, fellowship involvement, step work, mandated attendance, affiliation, and safety), and the measure successfully discriminated between samples on anticipated activity levels. This measure provides rich data on mutual-help activities and deepens our understanding of individuals' experiences across different 12-Step organizations.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Narcotics Anonymous
• measurement
• psychometric
• self-help groups
• mutual-help groups
• addiction
• recovery

Notes

This study was supported by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) grant numbers R21AA018185-01 and R01AA015526, as well as NIDA grant 1K01DA027097-01A1.