Drug Addicts in Therapy - Changes in Life Space in the Course of One Year

Author(s)

Marcella Ravenna, Erik Hölzl, Erich Kirchler, Augusto Palmonari, Sandro Costarelli

Abstract

In a residential community treatment setting, moods and emotional states of drug addicts were explored over a 1-year period. The specific form of treatment of heroin addiction employed in the communities is based on the importance of interpersonal relationships for psychosocial transition. Twenty-nine participants reported current mood, emotions, attributions, and motive activation using a time-sampling diary for 2 weeks at the beginning of the treatment, and 6 and 12 months later. Results show an increase in positive emotions, and in subjective strength and freedom. Furthermore, participants report higher self-esteem and use less fatalistic attributions. This is interpreted as indicating successful transition processes in terms of higher autonomy, a more extended life space and increased levels of realism. Copyright 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Organisation(s)

External organisation(s)

University of Bologna, Università degli Studi di Trento

Journal

Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology

Volume

12

Pages

353-368

No. of pages

16

ISSN

1052-9284

Publication date

2002

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

5010 Psychology

Portal url

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/3268eb45-bc81-4362-a702-ea6d61944b2b