Women recovering in Alcoholics Anonymous: The impact of social bonding

This study examines the process of same-sex bonding within the Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) women's community. More specifically, this research measures the impact of same-sex bonding on life-satisfaction and length of sobriety for alcoholic women in A.A. Linear regression analyses of survey data from female A.A. members (N = 293) indicate (1) a statistically significant relationship between Respondents' same-sex social bonding and life-satisfaction, and (2) that the effect of this social bonding on the number of years respondents have remained sober is mediated by life-satisfaction. Therefore, it is likely that higher female bonding scores among women lead to higher life-satisfaction and, in turn, higher life-satisfaction leads to longer sobriety terms. This model is supported by qualitative data gathered from ten volunteer survey respondents. Informants indicated that their self-transformations resulted in a positive attitude change toward same-sex bonding; in addition, sexual dynamics may play a role in such change. Future research should explore these relationships.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Sociology

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Year

2003

Author dc:creator

• Wininger, Tina Marie

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kathryn Hausbeck

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/rtds/1570

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:oasis.library.unlv.edu:rtds-2569