Evaluation of a Grief Group for Women in Residential Substance Abuse Treatment

Abstract

Most women in substance abuse treatment have experienced significant losses. This preliminary study examined the effectiveness of a therapy group addressing grief and loss among women enrolled in a gender-specific residential substance abuse treatment program. The intervention group consisted of 24 grief group participants and the comparison group consisted of 31 nonparticipants. Qualitative analysis revealed a pattern: participants identified traumatic loss, moved to emotional loss and abandonment by their own mothers, then focused on their own children. Data obtained at induction and at exit or follow-up were used for quantitative analysis. Length of stay, self-esteem, depression, mood, and parenting attitudes were assessed using standardized instruments. Women who participated in the grief group remained in treatment longer. While both groups were depressed and had low self-esteem at induction, the self-esteem of nonparticipants was significantly lower than that of participants. Both groups improved over time on mood, depression, and parenting. At exit or follow-up, participants had higher self-esteem. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that higher self-esteem at induction made it possible for women to participate in and benefit from the grief group, thus contributing to length of stay. To test this hypothesis we conducted regression analyses which found that, individually, group status (participation) and self-esteem explained 11% of the variance in length of stay. However, since the number of women with available data varied for group status and self-esteem, group status was a significant predictor of length of stay and self-esteem showed only a trend toward significance. These findings support our hypothesis. The women's pattern of disclosure and the hypotheses drawn from the results of this preliminary analysis will be examined further in an evaluation of a series of groups focused on loss and grief.

Grief and Recovery: The Prevalence of Grief and Loss in Substance Abuse Treatment

“…Although people in recovery regularly disclose experiences involving death as a significant part of their history (Robak, ), losses from sources other than death may precede addiction. Women in substance abuse treatment often have a history of childhood physical, emotional, or sexual abuse (McComish et al, ; Raghavan & Kinston, ). Chiavaroli () found that individuals who failed to address issues of sexual abuse in recovery had both greater rates of recidivism and lower progress in recovery.…”

Women in Substance Abuse Treatment: Results from the Alcohol and Drug Services Study (ADSS)

“…Results included abstinence or lower incidence of substance use, an increase in education and employment, improved mother-child interactions, lowered incidence of preterm birth, increased gestational age and birthweight, improved child physical and psychosocial functioning, and lowered repeat pregnancy. In another study, researchers examined the effectiveness of a therapy group addressing grief and loss among females enrolled in a gender-specific residential substance abuse treatment program (McComish et al, 1999). Females who participated in the grief group remained in treatment longer and had higher self-esteem at follow-up than those enrolled in the same residential substance abuse treatment program but who did not participate in the grief group.…”

Maternal mental health and integrated programs for mothers with substance abuse issues.

“…Some have permanently lost children to death or judicial removal (Raskin, 1992) or temporarily lost custody (Jackson & Berry, 1994; Laken & Hutchins, 1996). Thus, common themes in the lives of many women with substance abuse issues are trauma, loss, and unresolved grief (Finkelstein, 1996; McComish et al, 1999; Raskin, 1992).…”