Social Network Ties and Goal Formation: Correlates of Treatment Entry and Reduced Alcohol use Following Treatment Completion.

TL;DRAbstract

While effective treatment for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) exists, only about 28% of individuals suffering from AUDs seek help for problems (Cohen, Feinn, Arias, & Kranzler, 2007). The National Institute of Health strategic initiative of systems-thinking approaches to health (USDHHS, 2010b) suggests that social network ties may reveal important keys to how persons experiencing health problems, including AUDs, seek treatment. Additionally, approximately 60% of individuals in treatment for AUDs will relapse within the first year following alcohol treatment (Maisto, Pollock, Cornelius, Lynch, & Martin, 2003; Whitford, Widner, Mellick, & Elkins, 2009). One mechanism of change that could reduce relapse of alcohol use may be the goals individuals adopt upon entry to treatment. The objectives of this dissertation are 1) identify the characteristics of social network ties among persons with experiencing AUDs, 2) examine how social network ties influence treatment use for alcohol dependence, an

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