Beyond Attendance: Social Anxiety and Psychiatric Concerns Predict Mutual-Help Group Involvement in a U.S. National Longitudinal Survey.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Involvement in mutual-help groups (MHGs) is associated with positive alcohol recovery outcomes. Attendance is a first step to involvement, but barriers to attendance remain poorly understood, especially among second-wave (non-12-step) MHGs. This study aimed to describe the most common barriers to MHG attendance, describe variation in barriers across diverse MHG types, and identify attendance barrier domains associated with MHG involvement over a 12-month period.

Method

Data were from the Peer Alternatives (PAL) Study 2021 Cohort, a longitudinal, online survey of second-wave and 12-step MHG participants (n=531) with follow-ups at 6 and 12 months. Surveys measured MHG attendance barriers (11-items, 3 domains) and MHG involvement (5-items). We employed adjusted Genera

SUBMITTER: Martinez P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12914654 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature