Investigating emerging adults in recovery: a recovery capital perspective using national-based data

Emerging adulthood (EA; ages 18–25) is a developmental period characterized by heightened vulnerability to substance use and related challenges. While many individuals in this age group initiate or sustain recovery, limited research has explored the predictors of recovery identity, or the diverse ways recovery is experienced during this life stage. This dissertation aimed to: (1) assess whether recovery-related variables predict self-reported recovery status among EA; (2) examine whether the predictors of recovery differ between EA and mature adults (MA; ages 26 and older); and (3) identify distinct recovery subgroups within emerging adults using a person-centered analytic approach. Secondary data were drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), a nationally representative survey of U.S. civilians. In Sub-Study 1, three supervised machine learning methods (LASSO logistic regression, random forest, and XGBoost) were used to model recovery status among emerging adults who reported prior substance use problems. XGBoost demonstrated the highest predictive accuracy. SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) values were used to interpret the model and identify the most influential predictors, including access to peer support services, mental health recovery status, and marijuana use disorder. This sub-study also revealed that the relative importance of these predictors differed between EA and mature adults MA, suggesting age-based differences in recovery mechanisms. In Sub-Study 2, latent class analysis was employed to uncover distinct recovery profiles among emerging adults who self-identified as being in recovery. Three recovery subgroups emerged: (1) Psychologically Vulnerable (low recovery capital, high mental health needs), (2) Financially Strained (moderate recovery capital with economic vulnerabilities), and (3) High Recovery Capital (favorable psychosocial and service engagement indicators). Multinomial logistic regression revealed significant group differences in demographics, substance use disorder history, and service utilization. Findings from this dissertation highlight the heterogeneity and complexity of recovery experiences among EA. The results emphasize the importance of developmentally informed and integrated behavioral health services that are responsive to the unique needs of this population. Additionally, the dissertation offers implications for future research, clinical practice, and policy aimed at enhancing recovery support systems. These insights provide a critical foundation for designing targeted interventions that more accurately reflect the diverse pathways to recovery among young adults.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Social Work

Grantor

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2025

Author dc:creator

• Lee, Alex

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kim, Hyunil
• Smith, Douglas C
• Cohen, Flora Y
• Hennessy, Emily A.

• Emerging Adults
• Substance Use Recovery
• Substance Use Disorder
• Mental Health Services
• Recovery Capital

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2025 Alex Lee

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/130204

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F130204