TY - JOUR
T1 - A turning point for problematic alcohol users
T2 - Can relationship adjustment predict desistance?
AU - Browning, Shaun
AU - MAGOR-BLATCH, Lynne
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Problematic alcohol use (PAU) presents a major burden on health worldwide. Sampson and Laub’s Age-Graded Theory of Informal Social Control provides a unique lens through which to investigate desistance from PAU. This study explored the potential of relationship adjustment to act as a turning point, promoting desistance from PAU across the lifespan. Seventy-three participants (58 females, 15 males) who had previously experienced a period of PAU responded to an anonymous online survey. Contrary to the hypothesis, results showed that relationship adjustment did not act as a turning point predicting desistance from PAU across the lifespan in this sample. However, further analyses revealed that relationship adjustment did predict desistance for those aged 25 years and under. The findings provide partial support for the use of Sampson and Laub’s theory in the alcohol use literature, and highlight the importance of relationship adjustment in the drinking behaviors of youth. Replication and further research are needed. Implications for therapeutic practices, health promotion, and theoretical frameworks are discussed.
AB - Problematic alcohol use (PAU) presents a major burden on health worldwide. Sampson and Laub’s Age-Graded Theory of Informal Social Control provides a unique lens through which to investigate desistance from PAU. This study explored the potential of relationship adjustment to act as a turning point, promoting desistance from PAU across the lifespan. Seventy-three participants (58 females, 15 males) who had previously experienced a period of PAU responded to an anonymous online survey. Contrary to the hypothesis, results showed that relationship adjustment did not act as a turning point predicting desistance from PAU across the lifespan in this sample. However, further analyses revealed that relationship adjustment did predict desistance for those aged 25 years and under. The findings provide partial support for the use of Sampson and Laub’s theory in the alcohol use literature, and highlight the importance of relationship adjustment in the drinking behaviors of youth. Replication and further research are needed. Implications for therapeutic practices, health promotion, and theoretical frameworks are discussed.
KW - Desistance
KW - problematic alcohol use
KW - turning points
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84969756532&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/turning-point-problematic-alcohol-users-relationship-adjustment-predict-desistance
U2 - 10.3109/14659891.2016.1150527
DO - 10.3109/14659891.2016.1150527
M3 - Article
SN - 1465-9891
VL - 22
SP - 139
EP - 144
JO - Journal of Substance Use
JF - Journal of Substance Use
IS - 2
ER -