The Body Image of Four Women Recovered from Alcohol Abuse

Abstract

Four women formerly abusing alcohol but currently abstinent for five or more years were participants in this naturalistic study. Their past and current body image status was explored through observation, interviews, and a standardized instrument. Although several studies were reviewed which related poor body image and self-esteem to substance abuse, no literature examined the association between body image and long-term recovery. It was plausible to assume that positive body image might be related to long-term recovery, especially in women, since it was among the variables found to differentiate the sexes. Data analysis showed no consistent body image patterns across the four participants, results which indicated that body image status is unlikely to be directly related to long-term recovery. This lack of relationship was particularly remarkable since the four participants had shown, from a previous analysis, similarities in occupational patterns indicative of their association with prolonged recovery.

Key Words:

• Naturalistic research
• occupational histories