Predictors of Flexibility in Social Identity Among People Entering a Therapeutic Community for Substance Abuse

Abstract

One of the key aspects of recovery from substance dependence is making a transition from a social network supportive of substance use to one that supports recovery. This study assessed this transition in social identity in an adult therapeutic community (TC) at baseline and 2 weeks into treatment. Where residents increased identification with the TC, and reduced social identification with using groups, retention in treatment improved. As retention is a proxy measure of positive outcomes, this pilot suggests that facilitating residents' positive identification with the community in the first weeks of treatment may be central to retaining residents and improving treatment outcomes.

KEYWORDS:

• Social identity
• social networks
• recovery
• therapeutic community

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to thank the staff and residents of Logan House for their support and participation. Also, thanks to S. Alexander Haslam, Catherine Haslam, and Jolanda Jetten for their expertise and assistance with this research project.

FUNDING

Finally, the authors' thanks go to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation of Queensland for providing funding for the project.