Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Mental Health
Date Submitted: Jan 10, 2019
Open Peer Review Period: Jan 10, 2019 - Mar 7, 2019
Date Accepted: Apr 29, 2019
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Inclusive Digital Recovery Support Services: Characterizing Participation and Perceived Engagement Benefits in an Integrated Digital Recovery Community for Women
ABSTRACT
Background:
Background:
Research suggests that digital recovery support services (D-RSS) may help support individual recovery and augment the availability of in-person supports. Previous studies highlight the use of D-RSS in supporting individuals in recovery from substance use, but have yet to examine the use of D-RSS to support a combination of behavioral health disorders, including substance use, mental health, trauma, etc. Similarly, few studies on D-RSS have evaluated gender-specific supports or integrated communities, which may be helpful to women and individuals recovering from behavioral health disorders.
Objective:
The current study evaluates the SHE RECOVERS (SR) recovery community with three aims: 1) to characterize the women who engage in SR (including demographics and recovery-related characteristics), 2) describe the ways and frequency in which participants engage with SR, and 3) examine the perception of benefit derived from engagement with SR.
Methods:
The current study used a cross-sectional survey to examine the characteristics of SR participants. Analysis of variance and Pearson chi-square tests, as well as univariate logistic regressions, were used to explore each aim.
Results:
Results:
Participants (n = 729, Mage = 46.83 years; 94% Caucasian, reported being in recovery from a variety of conditions, though the most frequent, non-exclusive disorder was substance use (86.40%). Participants had an average length in recovery of 6.14 years (SD = 7.87), with most having between 1-5 years (n = 300). The most frequent reported recovery pathway was abstinence-based 12-step mutual aid (38.40%). Participants reported positive perceptions of benefit from SR participation, which did not vary by length in recovery or recovery pathway. Participants also had high rates of agreement with SR having a positive impact on their lives, though this too did vary by recovery length and recovery pathway. Participants with 1-5 years of recovery used SR to connect with other women in recovery at higher rates, while those with less than one year used SR to ask for resources at higher rates, and those with 5 or more years used SR to provide support at higher rates. Lifetime engagement with specific supports of SR was also associated with length in recovery and recovery pathway.
Conclusions:
Conclusions:
Gender-specific and integrated D-RSSs are feasible and beneficial from the perspective of participants. D-RSSs also appear to provide support to a range of recovery typologies and pathways in an effective manner, and may be a vital tool to expand recovery supports for those lacking in access and availability due to geography, social determinants, or other barriers.
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Copyright
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