Abstinence and well-being among members of alcoholics anonymous: Personal experience and social perceptions.

The subjective experience of well being was examined in abstinent Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) members. In addition, the social perceptions of an abstinent alcoholic’s well being were examined in three non-alcoholic French-Canadian samples:

  • male police officers,
  • Catholic nuns, and
  • university women.

The lowest ratings of well being were reported by

  • short-term abstinent AA members and
  • university women,

The highest ratings were reported by Catholic nuns.

However, the level of well being among abstinent AA members was positively related to the length of abstinence.

The three non-alcoholic groups evaluated an abstinent AA member more positively than a non-abstinent alcoholic.

These evaluations of an abstinent AA member converged with the AA members’ self-evaluations on the measure of well being.

Research; Kairouz, S.; Dibe, L. Abstinence and well-being among members of alcoholics anonymous: Personal experience and social perceptions. Journal of Social Psychology, 140(5):565-579, 2000

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