Social Identity Mapping in Addiction Recovery (SIM-AR): extension and application of a visual method

Abstract

Background: The Social Identity approach offers a unifying framework for understanding recovery from addiction as a process of identity change, associated with change in social network composition. This paper introduces Social Identity Mapping in Addiction Recovery (SIM-AR) -a visual method for capturing social group memberships, extended to integrate the substance use 'status' of group members as an indicator of group substance use norms. The aim here is to test theory-derived predictions focused on the relationship between changes in social identity and network composition reflected in substance use norms in early recovery.Method: 155 therapeutic community (TC) residents in Victoria, Australia, completed the SIM-AR plus measures of substance-using and recovery identities and substance use shortly after admission, and 65% (N=101) again 6 months later.Results: As predicted, substance use severity at follow up was associated with changes in both social identity and network composition. Furthermore, reduced strength of substance-using identity was associated with a decrease in the proportion of groups with heavy substance use norms, while increased strength of 'recovery' identity was associated with an increased proportion of non-using groups.Conclusion: SIM-AR proved useful in testing predictions about social identity and network changes in a residential treatment context. It captured key social identity constructs in recovery using a visual technique with value to both research and applied contexts. Findings highlight the clinical importance of assessing a person's group-based relationships in treatment and early recovery, especially the influence of social group norms in relation to substance use.

Life after Social Death: Leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Identity Transition and Recovery

“…Importance to identity CSE was further found to be positively associated with identity transition/recovery and self-esteem. These findings extend other recoveryfocussed work and theory (Beckwith et al 2019;Best et al 2016;Kay and Monaghan 2019) to a new domain and provide an initial indication that identity alignment with new supportive groups may help in the reformulation of identity that supports a post-exit lifestyle. As such, the current work aligns with, and possibly begins to bridge theoretically, previous findings indicating that religious exiters often experience, and respond to, losses of social support by seeking out new (online) groups to facilitate coping (Cheung and Lee 2010;Jacobs 1989;Nica 2019;Ridout et al 2012;Smith 2011).…”

Social group membership before treatment for substance dependence predicts early identification and engagement with treatment communities

“…To this end, recent research highlights the detrimental effects of social connections with using groups and individuals (Dingle, Stark, et al, 2015;Weston et al, 2018). Examining the effects that the composition of people's social networks make to recovery is important to gain a better understanding of the wider influence of social relationships and this is the subject of another paper involving this sample (Beckwith et al, 2018). It is also possible that self-selection biases in treatment choice might have also influenced study findings.…”

‘I’m getting the balls to say no’: Trajectories in long-term recovery from problem substance use

“…During group therapy and mutual aid meetings, a new identity focused on 'recovery' will be developed -a 'recovering addict' identity compared to the existing 'addict' identity (Orford, 2001). Beckwith et al (2019) demonstrate that the strength of the 'recovery identity' is associated with the proportion of non-substance-using social networks. Even when not immediately able to leave their 'addict' identity, people in recovery may draw on their 'recovery identity' to avoid relapse.…”

“…A key factor shown to aid people transitioning from substance misuse to recovery is belonging to mutual aid recovery groups (Beckwith et al, 2019;Humphreys and Lembke, 2014). Buckingham et al (2013) argue that social identity theory may be useful in explaining why some individuals relapse while others remain in recovery.…”