Journal article
Recovery Characteristics and Practices of Alcoholics Anonymous Sponsors
Addictive disorders & their treatment, Vol.11(2), pp.84-92
06/01/2012
DOI: 10.1097/ADT.0b013e318234e98d
Abstract
Objectives:
Sponsoring another member of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is associated with improved substance use outcomes, but little research examines who is asked (and agrees) to sponsor another member. The objective of this exploratory study is to describe the recovery-related characteristics and practices associated with AA sponsors.
Methods:
AA members (N= 263) completed an anonymous online questionnaire about their background and recovery behaviors. On 9 characteristics and 4 practices, Pearson x(2) and Student t tests were used to compare (a) current nonsponsors with sponsors; and (b) lifetime nonsponsors with those who had sponsored at some point.
Results:
How and when members entered AA had no association with the sponsor role. Sponsors, past and present, were characterized by having an AA home group, completing more steps, having longer sobriety, and reporting a greater degree of spiritual surrender. Current sponsors engaged more frequently than current nonsponsors in all 4 practices: performing AA service work, attending meetings, praying or meditating, and reading AA literature. Lifetime sponsors engaged more frequently than lifetime nonsponsors in all practices except praying or meditating. Tentative evidence suggested lifetime nonsponsors and former sponsors did not differ in AA practices, indicating the value of current/active sponsorship.
Conclusions:
Similar to having a sponsor, being a sponsor is associated with characteristics and practices supportive of AA engagement.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Recovery Characteristics and Practices of Alcoholics Anonymous Sponsors
- Creators
- Lance Brendan Young - Iowa City VA Hlth Care Syst, CADRE, 152,601 Highway 6 West, Iowa City, IA 52246 USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Addictive disorders & their treatment, Vol.11(2), pp.84-92
- Publisher
- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- DOI
- 10.1097/ADT.0b013e318234e98d
- ISSN
- 1531-5754
- eISSN
- 1535-1122
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Research and Development; US Department of Veterans Affairs VA Midwest Rural Health Resource Center Health Services Research and Development Department of Veterans Affairs; US Department of Veterans Affairs
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/01/2012
- Academic Unit
- Preventive and Community Dentistry; Dentistry Administration
- Record Identifier
- 9984367746502771
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