Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) are prevalent, long-term conditions, commonly treated via group intervention. Additionally, interpersonal learning (IL) is a therapeutic factor unique to group treatment programs, which has been associated with successful group therapy outcomes. While previous research has suggested attachment styles may predict experiences of IL within groups, research in this area is limited. Therefore, this study aims to investigate if attachment style impacts IL, within SUD group treatment programs and specifically, if anxious and avoidant attachment styles influence IL. Participants (N = 38) were recruited voluntarily from an outpatient SUD open group therapy program at a private mental health hospital in Sydney. All participants completed paper-based self-report questionnaires to assess attachment style and IL. Two separate Multiple Linear Regressions (MLRs) revealed anxious attachment was not a significant predictor of IL and avoidant attachment was a significant, negative predictor of IL. Additionally, thematic analysis of qualitative data revealed themes and behaviours which may improve IL. Thus, future directions and implications of the study’s findings indicate the need to conduct additional research into members attachment-based needs to enhance SUD group treatment outcomes.

Group cohesion is an important factor in group therapy as it influences treatment outcomes and group processes. One’s attachment style has been found to impact experiences of group cohesion, however research into this relationship in substance use disorder (SUD) group treatment is lacking. This is of particular concern as insecure attachment presentations are more prevalent in this clinical population and group therapy is often treatment of choice. The current study sought to determine whether attachment style significantly predicted group cohesion. It also provided a qualitative exploration of factors that promote group cohesion in SUD group treatment. Participants (N = 38) attending a SUD therapy program completed self-report measures. Attachment avoidance was a significant negative predictor of positive bonding and positive working, and a significant positive predictor of negative relationships. Attachment anxiety was a significant negative predictor of negative relationships, however, unexpectedly did not significantly predict positive bonding or positive working. The current findings highlight the importance of group therapists tailoring group treatment to meet the attachment needs of individuals to promote a group therapy environment conducive to recovery.