Quality of Life Factors among Recovering Alcoholics

272 Pages·2016·12.16 MB·English

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Dissertations Graduate College
8-2001
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George Edwin Compton Jr.
Western Michigan University
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QUALITY OF LIFE FACTORS AMONG RECOVERING ALCOHOLICS
by
George Edwin Compton, Jr.
A Dissertation
Submitted to the
Faculty of The Graduate College
in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the
Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Department of Counselor Education
and Counseling Psychology
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan
August 2001
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
QUALITY OF LIFE FACTORS AMONG RECOVERING ALCOHOLICS
George Edwin Compton, Jr., Ph.D.
Western Michigan University, 2001
The inspiration for undertaking the current research came from the Student
Investigator’s own experience of 19 years in recovery from alcoholism. During his
early years in graduate school, the Student Investigator witnessed occasional
misunderstandings among some academics and helping professionals regarding the
nature of alcoholism, and, specifically, the tasks involved in sustaining enduring
recovery from alcoholism. Thus, this dissertation research, which has sought to
examine, through qualitative research methodology, the factors involved in achieving
and sustaining quality of life in extended recovery from alcoholism was undertaken.
Several authors have noted the need for research which focuses on long-term
recovery from alcoholism (Amodeo, Kurtz, & Kutter, 1992; Cary, 1999). A literature
review revealed virtually no research which deals exclusively with quality of life in
long-term recovery from alcoholism. A number of areas of existing alcoholism
research were examined, however, which touch upon topics relevant to quality
recovery; these included the “dry drunk syndrome” and relapse, spirituality, and the
roles of therapy and Alcoholics Anonymous.
In the current research, phenomenologically-based qualitative methodology
(Moustakas, 1994) was used. Eight participants were chosen from among male and
female members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Each participant had at least 10 years of
continuous sobriety. Each participant was interviewed twice; interviews were tape-
recorded. A semi-structured interview format was employed.
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UMI Number. 3020226
Copyright 2001 by
Compton, George Edwin, Jr.
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Copyright by
George Edwin Compton, Jr.
2001
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to my doctoral committee, Dr.
Mary Anderson, Dr. Dennis Simpson, and Dr. Edward Trembley, for their patience,
guidance, and support during my writing of this dissertation. Each of them made a
unique contribution to this project. In particular, I want to acknowledge how much of
a privilege it has been to have my committee chaired by Dr. Trembley. His
knowledge, experience, and willingness to be of help to me in accomplishing this goal
have been indispensable.
My sincere thanks go to my fellow doctoral students who have shared with
me their knowledge about qualitative research. In particular, I appreciate Robyn
Geelhoed’s assistance in guiding me with the use of qualitative analysis software, and
Nancy Rosenau’s willingness to share her vast knowledge of the qualitative
methodology literature.
It would not have been possible to complete this dissertation, let alone
graduate school, without the infinite patience, caring, and support of my wife Susie.
In addition, I need to acknowledge the support and encouragement I have received
from my family and friends throughout this process. Though my mother and my
brother John could not see this process through to its completion, I trust that in spirit,
they recognize this achievement.
The completion of this research would not have been possible without the
participants who gave so generously of their time, experience, strength, and hope. It
ii
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Acknowledgments—Continued
was a great privilege for me to hear them describe in such thoughtful detail the path
that each of them has followed to quality of life in sobriety, and I am in their debt.
Finally, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the influence of Midge S.,
from whom I learned some 19 years ago how effective one person’s counseling skill
could be in helping another person to achieve sobriety. Without her, I would not have
discovered a way of living which has made it possible to (as some of the research
participants said) live “life on life’s terms.” It is to her that I dedicate this dissertation.
George Edwin Compton, Jr.
iii
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......................................................................................... ii
CHAPTER
I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1
Statement of the Problem....................................................................... 5
Abstinence Versus Sobriety............................................................ 5
Dry Drunk Versus Surrender.......................................................... 6
Powerlessness and Unmanageability............................................. 7
The Essence of the A. A. Experience............................................. 9
Can Therapists Facilitate Acclimation to A. A .?........................... 10
Development of a Spiritual Life..................................................... 10
Significance of the Problem .................................................................. 11
Definition of Terms ................................................................................ 12
Limitations of the Study......................................................................... 16
The Human Subjects Institutional Review Board ............................... 17
H. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE................................................... 18
Emotional State Changes Entering Recovery...................................... 18
Surrender .................................................................................... 24
The Dry Drunk Syndrome and Relapse................................................. 27
The Roles of Therapy and Alcoholics Anonymous............................. 36
Stages of Recovery ................................................................................ 45
Spirituality in Recovery ......................................................................... 53
iv
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