Population, Professional, and Client Support for Different Models of Managing Addictive Behaviors

Abstract

This study, funded by the Academy of Finland, explores how different stakeholder groups in Finland attribute responsibility for various addictions. A random general population survey and surveys with addiction treatment professionals and clients (n = 1,338) were conducted in 2007–2008. The data were analyzed with analyses of variance and logistic regression analysis. Individual responsibility was emphasized by all groups. The Moral model dominated in behavioral and the Enlightenment model in hard drug addictions, views on other substance addictions varied more. Some signs of the actor–observer asymmetry were observed. Personal addiction experiences and sex were the major predictors of the average response tendencies. The heavy emphasis on individual responsibility may prevent help-seeking.

RÉSUMÉ

La population, le soutien professionel e clientèle pour differérents modèles de gestion des comportements addictifs

Cette étude, financée par l'Académie de Finlande, étudie comment les différents groupes d'intervenants en Finlande attribuent responsabilité aux diverses dépendences. Un général enquête aléatoire sur la population et des enquêtes auprès des professionnels et des clients de traitement de la dépendence (n = 1,338) ont été réalisées en 2007 - 2008. Les données ont été analysées avec ANOVA et avec l'analyse de regression logistique. La responsabilité individuelle était soulignée par tous les groupes. Le modèle moral a dominé dans les dependences comportementales et le modèle des Lumières dans la dépendence de la drogue dure. Les vues sur d'autres substences ont été plus varies.

Certains signes de l'acteur-observateur asymétrie ont été observées. Expériences de la dépendance personnelle et le sexe ont été les principaux prédicteurs de la réponse moyenne des tendances. La lourde l'accent sur la responsabilité individuelle peut empêcher demander de l'aide.

Mots clés: responsabilité, attributions, population, professionnels de traitement, clients, survey

RESUMEN

Opinión de la población, profesionales y pacientes en el manejo de las diferentes formas de control de conductas adictivas.

Esta investigación, financiada por la Academia Finlandesa, contempla como distintos grupos de referencia finlandeses atribuyen la responsabilidad en distintos tipos de adicciones. La encuesta entre la población en general, profesionales en tratamiento adictivo y pacientes (1,338), se realizó en los años 2007 y 2008. Los datos fueron analizados con ANOVA y con el análisis de regresión logística. Todos los grupos pusieron énfasis en la responsabilidad individual. El modelo ético dominaba respecto a los conductuales y el apoyo al modelo educacional en adicciones a las drogas duras. Respecto a las adicciones de otro índole el apoyo a los modelos variaba mas. Se observaron algunos signos de asimetría actor-observador. El sexo y experiencias personales en la adicción tuvieron su influencia adicional en las contestaciones. La fuerte énfasis en la responsabilidad individual puede impedir la busqueda de ayuda.

Palabras Clave: responsabilidad, atribuciones, población, profesional en tratamiento de adicciones, paciente, estudio

Keywords :

• responsibility
• attributions
• population
• treatment professionals
• clients
• survey

THE AUTHORS

Anja Koski-Jännes, Ph.D., is a Professor (emerita) of social psychology at the University of Tampere. She got her doctorate from the University of Helsinki. She has done research in the area of addictions for 30 years. She has also worked as a clinician with substance abusers. She retired in the summer of 2011, but she is still active in the area of addictions. Her addiction-related research interests cover treatment process and outcome research, brief, and Internet-based interventions, recovery from addictive behaviors, and conceptual issues in addiction. Her interests in more general social psychology have dealt with attitudes, health and well-being, behavior regulation, and narrative research.

Tanja Hirschovits-Gerz, MA. is a Researcher and Lecturer in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Tampere since 2009. The theme of her MA thesis was the influence of gender, age, and societal reality on the social representations of different addictions. She is currently preparing her doctoral thesis on lay and professional images of various addictions in Finland. Previously, she worked as a nurse, teacher, and nonfiction writer in the area of addictions for almost 20 years. In addition to survey research on the images and conceptions of addictions, her current interests cover gambling research and clinical work with addictions.

Marjo Pennonen, MA. is currently a Research Assistant at the University of Tampere. She is also a Ph.D. student in social psychology. She received her M.Soc.Sc. in social psychology from the same university. She has eight years of working experience at the university as a research assistant and researcher. Previously, she worked at the University Hospital of Tampere for 19 years as a practical nurse for children. Her research concentrates on addiction treatment professionals and their images and conceptions of addictions and addictive behaviors.