A Study On The Psychosocial Functioning Of Married Adults

A study on the Psychosocial functioning of married adults in one year sobriety attending Alcoholic Anonymous meeting in Chennai Background Alcoholism has a wide range of consequences encompassing the individual, family, community and society at large. Statistics show that 21% of Indian adult men and 2% of Indian women consume alcohol. The percentage of the drinking population aged less than 21 years has increased from 2% to more than 14% in the past 15 years, according to studies in the southern state of Kerala by Alcohol and Drugs Information Centre India, a non-governmental organization (NGO). Alarmingly, the study found that the â€Å"average age of initiation† had dropped from 19 years to 13 years in the past two decades. Thus alcoholism†¦show more content†¦Alcoholic Anonymous was created in 1935 as a self help group for individuals in alcohol recovery to maintain sobriety through its emphasis on spirituality, social support and its progressive 12 steps [4]. Today more people turn to AA to recover from alcohol addiction than any other program and a worldwide membership estimated over 2,000,000 in 15 0 countries (Alcoholic Anonymous, 2006). One of the frequently cited aspects of attending an Alcoholic Anonymous group is enhancing social support [5]. Correlational meta-analyses of AA effectiveness studies concluded that AA participation was linked to positive drinking outcomes and modestly related to better psychological health, social functioning, employment situation and legal situation [6]. According to Moos et al (2001), patients with substance use disorders who attend more Alcoholic Anonymous meetings had better outcome. Multiple studies indicate that regular attendance and involvement in the 12-step programs of Alcoholic Anonymous groups is associated with greater abstinence rates and increased social support and social network [7]. Though there is lucidity in relationship between social functioning and participation in AA program, limited resources are available establishing the fact that participation in AA program would enhance one’s psychosocial functioning [5]. Hence this study aims to establish such a relationship and to study the psychosocial functioning of married