Research That Matters (January 17 - 20, 2008)

Purpose: This study examined psychosocial contributors to a community engagement-oriented purpose in life among respondents with a history of substance abuse and incarceration. Taking part in activities that benefit the community can engender a variety of rewards; however, people who abuse substances have been less likely to endorse such goals as making a contribution to society. On the contrary, drug and alcohol abuse has often been associated with thoughts and behaviors that may result in harm to self or others. Over time, as individuals work towards modifying their use, avoidant incentives often yield to more positive or approach-type motives such as prosocial community engagement (Amodeo, Kurtz, & Cutter, 1992). Until now, there has been little information on the factors that contribute to the development of community engagement-related life goals among those who have abused substances.

Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional survey design employing face-to-face interviews based on a semi-structured questionnaire. The sample consisted of 68 men (75%) and women (25%) recruited from a residential substance abuse treatment program to which clients were predominantly referred by the criminal justice system. Measures included those of demographic and psychosocial background, quantity and frequency of alcohol and drug use, the Consequences of Alcohol and Drug Use Indices (Kulka et al., 1990), previous involvement in a civic organization, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Purpose in Life Scale (Crumbaugh & Maholick, 1962; Hablas & Hutzell, 1982). Specific goals were elicited through the question “What do you believe is your purpose in life?” Qualitative data were analyzed using an inductive methodology of constant comparisons (Glaser & Strauss, 1967). Themes derived from the participants' narratives were coded, aggregated, and incorporated into a series of discriminant analyses.

Results: Qualitative analyses yielded four principal purpose-related themes: community engagement, improving the quality of one's own life, expressing spirituality, and serving the immediate family. Seventy-six percent of the respondents listed community engagement aspirations such as helping others in need, engendering political and social change, being a role model, and sharing one's life lessons to prevent the suffering of others. Discriminant analysis (X2[7] = 33.66, p < .0001) revealed that those endorsing community engagement goals were more highly educated, as were their mothers, were older at the onset of heavy drinking, and manifested greater self-esteem and a more consolidated sense of purpose in life. They were also more likely to have previously participated in a community organization and to have received public assistance.

Implications: Prior research has suggested that community engagement may be salient in the successful treatment of substance abuse (Piedmont, 2004). Findings from this study suggest that from the outset of treatment, clients should be supported in reflecting on the unique gifts that they have to offer to the community alongside of the actions that have brought pain and shame such that self-esteem and sense of purpose may be enhanced. At the macro level, educational access and retention, as well as adequate provision of material aid may contribute to civic involvement.