Women in sober living: baseline characteristics and their associations with reasons for leaving

ABSTRACT

Studies of the intersectionality of gender, age, mental health, and physical health on sober living outcomes can inform service provision and improve results. Data were extracted from administrative records. Multinomial logistic regression was employed to determine the association between baseline characteristics and reasons for leaving. Women left sober living for three main reasons: relapsing (44%), breaking house rules (21%), and leaving on good terms (32%). Number of mental health conditions increased risk of relapse and rule-breaking. Women aged 18–29 compared to women 30+ had better physical and mental health but greater social instability. Women 18–29 were nearly three times more likely than women 30+ to be asked to leave for breaking rules. Women have diverse needs based on age and mental health status. Services and polices designed to address these needs can improve outcomes.

KEYWORDS:

• Emerging adults
• mental health
• physical health
• sober living
• women

Acknowledgments

We thank Margaret M. Higgins, J.D.; Kirk J. Brower, M.D.; and Linda H. Krentzman, M.A. for their assistance categorizing participants’ legal issues, mental/physical health concerns/medicines, and occupations, respectively. Thank you to the research assistants who helped with this work, especially Emily Klatt and Monica Sharratt. We thank our colleagues who read drafts of this manuscript and all the reviewers for their excellent comments. We thank the staff of the sober living organization for their cooperation and assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website.