The 'doing' or the 'being'? Understanding the roles of involvement and social identity in peer-led addiction support groups

Taylor, I, McNamara, N ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3123-3678 and Frings, D, 2019. The 'doing' or the 'being'? Understanding the roles of involvement and social identity in peer-led addiction support groups. Journal of Applied Social Psychology. ISSN 0021-9029

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Abstract

While the efficacy of peer-led support groups such as AA are well established for people recovering from addiction, the ‘active ingredients’ which underpin their efficacy are less well understood. Drawing on social identity perspectives, in particular the Social Identity Model of Cessation Maintenance, the current study aimed to explore the relative effects of two possible processes; social identification and involvement with the group’s activities. A sample (n = 44) of AA members completed measures pertaining to their social identification with AA, their involvement in the group’s activities and their quit efficacy. The findings suggest that AA involvement was significantly related to identity. Mediation analysis revealed a relationship between involvement and efficacy meditated by identity. However, in contrast, the identity-efficacy link was not mediated by involvement. The findings suggest social identification with AA is as, or more important than, simple involvement in the group’s activities. This suggests that group planners and facilitators should therefore encourage opportunities to generate a sense of belonging alongside the activities the group revolve around.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Journal of Applied Social Psychology
Creators:	Taylor, I., McNamara, N. and Frings, D.
Publisher:	Wiley-Blackwell
Date:	2 November 2019
ISSN:	0021-9029
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1111/jasp.12635 DOI 1206611 Other
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	24 Oct 2019 14:34
Last Modified:	31 May 2021 15:14
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/38040

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