The Meanings of Family in Substance Users’ Change Talk During Motivational Interviewing: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Only a very small number of studies have examined the meaning of significant others in motivational interviewing (MI) sessions. The aim of this qualitative study is to provide insights into substance users’ experience of the meaning of family in the change process and to expand current understanding about the significance of family relationships in change talk during MI. The analyses are based on videotaped data consisting of 98 MI sessions in the Finnish Probation Service. The results show that family relationships are important and diverse factors that promote or hinder motivation to change in substance users’ change talk.

KEYWORDS:

• change talk
• family
• meanings
• motivational intervention
• probation service
• qualitative study
• semiotics
• substance users

FUNDING

This research was funded by the Academy of Finland (Grant Nos. 118424, 250125504623, 25012561453) and the Finnish Criminal Sanctions Agency (Grant No. 21126).

Notes

¹ This study is part of the ongoing research project “Motivating Substance Abusers for Change—Semiotic Perspectives to Client–Counselor Interaction,” which was launched with an aim to apply Peirce’s theory of signs. The basic idea of the project is to map the semiotic features of MI sessions that appear to predict clients’ willingness to change their addictive behaviors.