Psychosocial correlates of recovery capital in alcohol and opioid-dependent patients: A cross-sectional comparative study

Abstract

Introduction: All the resources that catalyze this recovery are known as recovery capital. This study aims at finding out the correlates which help increase the recovery capital of an individual and the extent to which it can affect them. Methodology: Along with sociodemographic and clinical variables, we assessed recovery capital (Assessment of Recovery Capital [ARC] Scale), religiosity (Duke University Religion Index), spirituality (Daily Spiritual Experience Scale), Coping (Coping Strategies Inventory-short form), social support (Social Support Questionnaire), subjective happiness (Subjective Happiness Scale) of patients diagnosed with Alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS group), and Opioid dependence syndrome (ODS group) who were currently not having withdrawal symptoms. Results: A total of 111 individuals were screened, of which 49 in the ODS group and 30 in the ADS group met the selection criteria. The majority of the individuals in both groups were married, belonged to urban areas, practiced Hinduism, and lived in nuclear families. There was a significant difference between the educational status, the religion practiced, the age of onset of dependence, the severity of dependence, and the duration of abstinence between the ADS and ODS groups. Better social support (P = 0.029), higher emotion-focused coping (P < 0.001), and higher engagement (P = 0.001) in ADS, while the pattern of disengagement (P = 0.003) was found higher in the ODS group. Other correlates were comparable in both groups. Recovery (ARC) has a moderate correlation with social support in both groups (ODS-rho = 0.424, P = 0.002 and ADS rho = 0.695, P < 0.001). Furthermore, in the ADS group, a moderate correlation was seen between emotion-focused engagement, problem-focused engagement, and coping skills. While in ODS individuals, a weak correlation of recovery capital was observed with organizational religious activity and emotion-focused engagement, emotion-focused disengagement coping skills. Discussion and Conclusions: The results of our study reveal that social support emerged as the important factor common in both groups, which suggests that it should be the key area of psychosocial interventions in both disorders. A focus on enhancing coping styles and increasing other lifestyle factors can help sustain this path for longer.

Keywords

• recovery capital
• recovery in substance use disorder
• religiosity
• social support
• spirituality