AA Benefits Vary Between Sexes

A study finds differences in how men and women participate in AA is an important factor
A new study finds differences in the ways that participation in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) helps men and women maintain sobriety. Two Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators found that while many factors were helpful to all AA participants, some had stronger effects in men and some in women.
For example, avoidance of companions who encourage drinking and social situations in which drinking is common had more powerful benefits for men, while increased confidence in the ability to avoid drinking while feeling sad, depressed, or anxious appeared to be more important for women. The report will appear in Drug and Alcohol Dependence and has been released online.
“Men and women benefit equally from participation in AA, but some of the ways in which they benefit differ in nature and in magnitude,” said John F. Kelly, Harvard Medical School (HMS) associate professor of psychology and the associate director of the MGH-Harvard Center for Addiction Medicine. “These differences may reflect differing recovery challenges related to gender-based social roles and the contexts in which drinking is likely to occur.”
Kelly and his co-author, Assistant Professor of Psychology Bettina B. Hoeppner, note that, while AA was founded by men, one-third of its members today are women.  Studies have found that women benefit at least as much as men from participation, and many women become deeply ...

Source: Twelve Step Facilitation.com - August 6, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: Sparrow Tags: 12-Step Groups Alcoholics Anon Alcoholism Men Recovery Women maintain sobriety men and women participate in AA Source Type: blogs