Predictors of concerned others' Al-Anon attendance and involvement following adults' entry into treatment for an alcohol use disorder.

Abstract

Background: Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) negatively impact the health of persons consuming alcohol and their concerned others (COs, their family, and friends). It is important to identify factors that affect COs' likelihood of participating in supportive services, such as Al-Anon, that can improve their outcomes. We used the Stress-Strain-Coping-Support model to identify potential predictors of Al-Anon attendance and involvement among COs of adults entering treatment for an AUD.

Methods: Participants were 279 dyads of patients entering residential treatment for AUD and their CO. Outcomes were COs' Al-Anon attendance and participation. The study examined patient and CO characteristics at baseline as predictors of COs' Al-Anon attendance and involvement at baseline and 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups, after controlling for COs' demographics.

Results: COs who were of older age, White, and religious were more likely to attend and be involved in Al-Anon, and COs who were currently living with the patient were more likely to be involved in Al-Anon. Patients with more Alcoholics Anonymous involvement and criminal justice engagement had COs who were more likely to attend and/or be involved in Al-Anon. Further, COs who used more nurturing communication were more likely to attend Al-Anon, and COs who were abstinent from alcohol and with poorer mental health were more likely to attend and be involved in Al-Anon.

Conclusions: Understanding factors affecting COs' use of Al-Anon may inform treatment programs and provider efforts to improve the use of these effective and widely available services among COs.