The Role of Self-Regulation in Abstinence Maintenance: Effects of Communal Living on Self-Regulation

Abstract

Studies of self-regulation suggested that self-control requires finite resources; this requirement, in turn, may present a significant challenge for those trying to recover from or control addictive behaviors. The present study examined the relationships between self-regulation and abstinence maintenance among adults in recovery (n = 606: 407 men, 199 women; M age = 38.5 years) residing in self-governed, communal-living, abstinent homes across the United States. Self-regulation scores (controlling for sex and age) were positively related to length of abstinence. In addition, a factor analysis of self-regulation scores resulted in some differentiation between general self-discipline and impulsivity in self-control related to addiction. The relationship between impulsivity and length of abstinence was stronger than the relationship derived between general self-regulation and length of abstinence.

KEYWORDS:

• Oxford House
• self-regulation
• change over time
• mutual support

The authors express gratitude to Meg Davis for supervising data collection and to Josefina Alvarez for advice on data analysis. Funding for this study was made possible in part through National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) grants #5F31DA16037 and # R01DA13231.