Quality of Life Factors Among Recovering Alcoholics
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Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Dissertations Graduate College 8-2001 Quality of Life Factors among Recovering Alcoholics George Edwin Compton Jr. Western Michigan University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations Part of the Counseling Commons, Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons, Other Mental and Social Health Commons, and the Substance Abuse and Addiction Commons Recommended Citation Compton, George Edwin Jr., "Quality of Life Factors among Recovering Alcoholics" (2001). Dissertations. 1360. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/1360 This Dissertation-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. QUALITY OF LIFE FACTORS AMONG RECOVERING ALCOHOLICS by George Edwin Compton, Jr. A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan August 2001 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. QUALITY OF LIFE FACTORS AMONG RECOVERING ALCOHOLICS George Edwin Compton, Jr., Ph.D. Western Michigan University, 2001 The inspiration for undertaking the current research came from the Student Investigator’s own experience of 19 years in recovery from alcoholism. During his early years in graduate school, the Student Investigator witnessed occasional misunderstandings among some academics and helping professionals regarding the nature o f alcoholism, and, specifically, the tasks involved in sustaining enduring recovery from alcoholism. Thus, this dissertation research, which has sought to examine, through qualitative research methodology, the factors involved in achieving and sustaining quality of life in extended recovery from alcoholism was undertaken. Several authors have noted the need for research which focuses on long-term recovery from alcoholism (Amodeo, Kurtz, & Kutter, 1992; Cary, 1999). A literature review revealed virtually no research which deals exclusively with quality of life in long-term recovery from alcoholism. A number of areas of existing alcoholism research were examined, however, which touch upon topics relevant to quality recovery; these included the “dry drunk syndrome” and relapse, spirituality, and the roles o f therapy and Alcoholics Anonymous. In the current research, phenomenologically-based qualitative methodology (Moustakas, 1994) was used. Eight participants were chosen from among male and female members o f Alcoholics Anonymous. Each participant had at least 10 years of continuous sobriety. Each participant was interviewed twice; interviews were tape- recorded. A semi-structured interview format was employed. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy subm itted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. 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UMI Number. 3020226 Copyright 2001 by Compton, George Edwin, Jr. All rights reserved. __ ___ @ UMI UMI Microform 3020226 Copyright 2001 by Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Copyright by George Edwin Compton, Jr. 2001 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to my doctoral committee, Dr. Mary Anderson, Dr. Dennis Simpson, and Dr. Edward Trembley, for their patience, guidance, and support during my writing of this dissertation. Each of them made a unique contribution to this project. In particular, I want to acknowledge how much of a privilege it has been to have my committee chaired by Dr. Trembley. His knowledge, experience, and willingness to be o f help to me in accomplishing this goal have been indispensable. My sincere thanks go to my fellow doctoral students who have shared with me their knowledge about qualitative research. In particular, I appreciate Robyn Geelhoed’s assistance in guiding me with the use of qualitative analysis software, and Nancy Rosenau’s willingness to share her vast knowledge of the qualitative methodology literature. It would not have been possible to complete this dissertation, let alone graduate school, without the infinite patience, caring, and support of my wife Susie. In addition, I need to acknowledge the support and encouragement I have received from my family and friends throughout this process. Though my mother and my brother John could not see this process through to its completion, I trust that in spirit, they recognize this achievement. The completion of this research would not have been possible without the participants who gave so generously of their time, experience, strength, and hope. It ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Acknowledgments—Continued was a great privilege for me to hear them describe in such thoughtful detail the path that each o f them has followed to quality of life in sobriety, and I am in their debt. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the influence o f Midge S., from whom I learned some 19 years ago how effective one person’s counseling skill could be in helping another person to achieve sobriety. Without her, I would not have discovered a way o f living which has made it possible to (as some o f the research participants said) live “life on life’s terms.” It is to her that I dedicate this dissertation. George Edwin Compton, Jr. iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......................................................................................... ii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem ....................................................................... 5 Abstinence Versus Sobriety ............................................................ 5 Dry Drunk Versus Surrender.......................................................... 6 Powerlessness and Unmanageability............................................. 7 The Essence of the A. A. Experience ............................................. 9 Can Therapists Facilitate Acclimation to A. A .? ........................... 10 Development of a Spiritual Life ..................................................... 10 Significance of the Problem .................................................................. 11 Definition o f Terms ................................................................................ 12 Limitations of the Study......................................................................... 16 The Human Subjects Institutional Review Board ............................... 17 H. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE................................................... 18 Emotional State Changes Entering Recovery ...................................... 18 Surrender .................................................................................... 24 The Dry Drunk Syndrome and Relapse................................................. 27 The Roles of Therapy and Alcoholics Anonymous............................. 36 Stages of Recovery ................................................................................ 45 Spirituality in Recovery ......................................................................... 53 iv Reproduced with permission of the