Sanger, S., Bath, P.A. orcid.org/0000-0002-6310-7396 and Bates, J. (2019) ‘Someone like me’ : user experiences of the discussion forums of non-12-step alcohol online support groups, June 2019. Addictive Behaviors, 98. 106028. ISSN 0306-4603
Abstract
Background
Peer support is widely acknowledged to be an important factor in recovery from problem drinking. Many seek this from support groups, including those online. Whilst Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other 12-step groups have provided help to many people, some individuals do not find them useful. This paper aims to contribute to the current limited knowledge on non-12-step groups, i.e., those that do not follow the approach of AA.
Methods
Twenty-five semi-structured interviews were carried out with users of five non-12-step alcohol online support groups (AOSGs) which differed in approach to recovery from problem drinking, size and location. The study was publicised via the groups, and interviewees self-selected. Data were analysed using thematic and template analysis.
Results
The most important benefit of the groups, according to most interviewees was finding ‘someone like me’: something that many did not feel they could do elsewhere, including in AA. Another key perceived difference from 12-step groups was that their groups provided support without requiring them to follow a set programme for recovery. The groups respected individuals' rights to choose their own goal for sobriety (e.g., abstinence, moderate drinking) and to choose how they achieved it. Other key benefits included seeing that recovery is possible and sharing experiential information. Some disadvantages of using the forums are also discussed.
Conclusion
The findings report the experiences and perceptions of twenty-five users of non-12-step AOSGs. These are groups that have received little research attention so the findings offer a rare insight into users' opinions on these sources of peer support.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2019 Elsevier. This is an author produced version of a paper subsequently published in Addictive Behaviors. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. Article available under the terms of the CC-BY-NC-ND licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). |
Keywords: | Alcohol; Online support groups; Mutual aid groups; Online groups; Non-12-step; Internet |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) > Information School (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 17 Jul 2019 10:43 |
Last Modified: | 19 Dec 2020 01:38 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106028 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:148479 |
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Filename: 'Someone like me', accepted manuscript, S Sanger.pdf
Licence: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0