Gender and Extroversion as Moderators of the Association Between Alcoholics Anonymous and Sobriety

Abstract

Objective: Although women make up one third of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) membership, research on gender and AA has been limited. Findings in the literature are mixed, with few empirical investigations of factors that may moderate any gender differences found. AA is highly interpersonal, and research has found that women are more extroverted than men. The current study explores the impact of AA on sobriety, gender differences in the relationship between AA and sobriety, and whether extroversion can inform our understanding of gender differences. Method: A sample of 276 alcohol-dependent adults (180 men, 96 women) was recruited from four sites and followed prospectively for 2.5-3 years. Participants completed the Timeline Followback interview. AA membership was assessed by an item from the Alcoholics Anonymous Involvement scale. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine whether gender, extroversion, AA membership, and their interaction would predict sobriety status at follow-up. Results: AA membership signifi cantly increased the odds of achieving a year of sobriety, and this relationship was stronger for women than men (odds ratio [OR] = 4.42, 95% CI [1.14, 17.18]). There were no main or interactive effects of extroversion on sobriety. Conclusions: AA was founded by men, and early in its history it was exclusively attended by men. Some have criticized AA for women because of its emphasis on "powerlessness." Despite its historical beginnings and such debate, this study joins others in fi nding evidence that women fare better in AA than do men. In this sample, extroversion did not moderate the association between gender and sobriety. Further research is needed on gender differences in AA and its explanatory factors. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, 73, 44-52, 2012)

12-Step Interventions and Mutual Support Programs for Substance Use Disorders: An Overview

“…Some have speculated that women may not identify as well as men with 12-Step programs, in part because women may resist the notion of powerlessness and surrender based on their historically subservient status in society (Hillhouse & Fiorentine, 2001; Krentzman, Brower, Cranford, Bradley, & Robinson, 2012; Matheson & McCollum, 2008; Timko, 2008). Others have suggested that women may be more likely to identify with the 12-Step approach because of their tendency toward lower self-esteem, an external locus of control, and a greater willingness to admit their mistakes and to disclose negative things about themselves (Beckman, 1994; Kaskutas, 1994; Timko, 2008).…”

“…There may be a number of factors that arise in the course of such discussions. As an example, some individuals, such as agnostics or atheists, are put off by the focus on the concept of a “Higher Power,” spirituality, and perceived religiosity (Tonigan, Miller, & Schermer, 2002); others, particularly women, may have concerns with the focus on “ powerlessness” (Kaskutas, 1994; Krentzman et al, 2012); whereas others, particularly those who have social phobia and/or a tendency to avoid attachments may find being in groups and the concept of joining a “fellowship” anxiety provoking (Jenkins & Tonigan, 2011; Tonigan et al, 2010). It is also important to address real barriers that make meeting attendance difficult, such as time, travel/transportation, and child care needs.…”

Substance Use and Violence Among Youth: A Daily Calendar Analysis

“…Studies using timeline follow-back assessment approaches allow for a more detailed look into specific risks associated with incidents of violence at the daily level (Chermack et al, 2010; Epstein-Ngo et al, 2012). Yet, to date, most studies using timeline follow-back methodology have been conducted for adult substance use (Brower et al, 2011, Chermack et al, 2010; Krentzman et al, 2012; Tweedly et al, 2012), for adult violence and substance use (Chermack et al, 2010), or for adolescent substance use and dating violence (Epstein-Ngo et al, 2012; Rothman et al, 2012). This method has not been used to examine factors associated with incidents of substance use and peer violence at the daily level, and no prior work has described in detail the type of substances used that preceded the incident of victimization or aggression among adolescents and young adults.…”

Pilot Test of 12-Step Linkage for Alcohol-Abusing Women in Leaving Jail

“…Post-release AA attendance is associated with improved drinking outcomes for women leaving jail 9 , as well as in community samples 10–14 . Furthermore, because they are free and widely available 15 , twelve step programs, including Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), can successfully overcome many post-release barriers to services.…”