Recovery Networks and Community Connections: Identifying Connection Needs and Community Linkage Opportunities in Early Recovery Populations

Best, David; Irving, Jamie; Collinson, Beth; Andersson, Catrin; Edwards, Michael

doi:10.1080/07347324.2016.1256718

Cited by 58 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…In line with our hypothesis, we found evidence that the negative impact of self-stigma on psychological well-being was mediated by social identification with the online recovery group. This finding is consistent with the view that social identification has a positive impact on psychological well-being because it serves as a psychological basis for individuals to achieve longterm identity change and equips individuals with adaptive coping behaviours and social support and guidance that enable them to manage the negative effects of self-stigma (Albery & Frings, 2016;Best et al, 2017;Bliuc, Best, Beckwith, & Iqbal, 2017;Chou et al, 2013, Frings & Albery, 2015. However, the results of our analysis have paradoxically linked social identification to both psychological well-being and lesser self-efficacy.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…As an extension of SIT, Best et al () proposed the social identity model of recovery (SIMOR), which frames recovery from addiction as a process of social identity change, whereby individuals gradually adopt the norms and values of new (more functional) membership groups and move away from old using social networks and the resulting identities. The internalisation of recovery values and norms then shapes subsequent attitudes and behaviours related to substance use, typically involving reduced exposure to conditioned cues that increase the risk of relapse and avoidance of substance use (Best, Irving, Collinson, Andersson, & Edwards, ). SIMOR argues that individuals can establish positive identities regardless of continuing symptoms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sober social networks: The role of online support groups in recovery from alcohol addiction

Bliuc

Doan

Best

2018

Community & Applied Soc Psy

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In the context of addiction research, positive recovery outcomes are affected by the quality of people's social interactions and perhaps to an even greater extent, by the defining norms of the groups they identify with—that is, using versus recovery groups. Here, we examine the role of online supportive networks in the process of recovery from alcohol addiction. We analyse the relationship between negative and positive aspects of recovery capital (i.e., self‐stigma, and respectively, positive recovery identity and self‐efficacy) as they relate to well‐being outcomes among alcohol users in an online recovery support group. Based on a computerised linguistic analysis of the naturally occurring data extracted from an online recovery support group (i.e., 257 posts made by 237 group members), we found that self‐stigma negatively predicts self‐efficacy and well‐being, and social identification with a recovery identity mediates these relationships. Overall, these findings highlight that positive engagement with supportive recovery networks is central to an effective and sustainable recovery.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sober social networks: The role of online support groups in recovery from alcohol addiction

Bliuc

Doan

Best

2018

Community & Applied Soc Psy

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“…However, to support recovery goals, they will need to negotiate how they engage with members to minimise social influence around substance use. A SIMbased tool may also be used alongside community development practices to connect people with a broad range of recovery supportive groups where such supports are lacking in one's existing network (Best, Irving, Collinson, Andersson & Edwards, 2017). Changes can then be assessed by repeating the SIM-AR task in a therapeutic session, drawing comparisons with a previous map.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Identity Mapping in Addiction Recovery (SIM-AR): extension and application of a visual method

Beckwith

Best

Savic

et al. 2019

Addiction Research & Theory

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Background: The Social Identity approach offers a unifying framework for understanding recovery from addiction as a process of identity change, associated with change in social network composition. This paper introduces Social Identity Mapping in Addiction Recovery (SIM-AR) -a visual method for capturing social group memberships, extended to integrate the substance use 'status' of group members as an indicator of group substance use norms. The aim here is to test theory-derived predictions focused on the relationship between changes in social identity and network composition reflected in substance use norms in early recovery.Method: 155 therapeutic community (TC) residents in Victoria, Australia, completed the SIM-AR plus measures of substance-using and recovery identities and substance use shortly after admission, and 65% (N=101) again 6 months later.Results: As predicted, substance use severity at follow up was associated with changes in both social identity and network composition. Furthermore, reduced strength of substance-using identity was associated with a decrease in the proportion of groups with heavy substance use norms, while increased strength of 'recovery' identity was associated with an increased proportion of non-using groups.Conclusion: SIM-AR proved useful in testing predictions about social identity and network changes in a residential treatment context. It captured key social identity constructs in recovery using a visual technique with value to both research and applied contexts. Findings highlight the clinical importance of assessing a person's group-based relationships in treatment and early recovery, especially the influence of social group norms in relation to substance use.

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“…Recent research highlights interpersonal processes (Demaeyer et al, , 2011Best et al, 2016b). Best et al (2016bBest et al ( , 2017 argue that recovery occurs primarily through changes in social networks, proposing a Social Identity Model Of Recovery (SIMOR) (Best et al 2016b).…”

Section: Narrative Theory and Substance Misusementioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring an agency-communion model of identity transformation in recovery from substance misuse

Rowlands

Youngs

Canter

2018

Journal of Substance Use

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Background: Narrative research shows that identity change is key to recovery from substance misuse. Theories have focused on either personal or social factors in this process. A framework encompassing agency and communion has been useful in understanding narratives in similar populations.Objectives: The study proposes that substance misuse and recovery can be understood using an agencycommunion framework.Method: The Life As A Film Task (LAAF) and repertory grids were used to explore agency and communion in a sample of 32 participants.Results: Smallest Space Analysis of LAAF items revealed regions according to agency and communion, reflecting four dominant narratives. Case examples indicated that agency and communion themes predicted a recovery identity, and an absence of themes predicted substance misuse. Analysis of repertory grids showed a fixed low agency-communion construct system in substance misuse cases, and a transformed high agencycommunion construct system in recovery cases. Transformation from a low agency and communion substanceusing identity towards a high agency and communion recovery identity was highlighted. Conclusions:The results support an agency-communion model for understanding identity-transformative recovery.

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Recovery Networks and Community Connections: Identifying Connection Needs and Community Linkage Opportunities in Early Recovery Populations

Cited by 58 publications

References 33 publications

Sober social networks: The role of online support groups in recovery from alcohol addiction

Sober social networks: The role of online support groups in recovery from alcohol addiction

Social Identity Mapping in Addiction Recovery (SIM-AR): extension and application of a visual method

Exploring an agency-communion model of identity transformation in recovery from substance misuse

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