CHANGES IN ALCOHOLICS' SELF-ESTEEM IN RELATIONSHIP TO PERCEPTIONS OF DRINKING AND SOBER ROLES DURING TREATMENT

STEVEN B BLUM, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Abstract

This study examined changes in self-esteem and changes in the relationship of self-esteem and perceptions of the positivity of various sober and drinking roles for 50 male alcoholic inpatients during the course of a 30-day treatment program. The self-esteem and perceptions of sober and drinking roles of the participants were measured using a modification of the Self-Repertory Inventory developed by Page based on the Role Construct Repertory Grid technique of Kelly (1955). Self-esteem was measured twelve times for each participant over the course of treatment. Perceptions of positivity of other roles were measured once a week for four weeks. Two methods were used to differentiate participants into good, fair, and poor prognosis groups. The first was post treatment ratings of progress and prognosis for sobriety by the participants' counselors. The second was a rating of improvement and prognosis for sobriety based on blind ratings of participants' pre and post treatment MMPI profiles. Results of the self-esteem ratings indicated significant improvement for all prognostic groups. Interestingly, those participants judged to have the poorest prognosis for sobriety began treatment with the highest level of self-esteem, while those rated to have a good prognosis began treatment with the lowest level of self-esteem. The implication of this finding is that coming face to face with accepting the loss of esteem resulting from drinking is an important aspect of the recovery process. The Alcoholics Anonymous philosophy of the necessity of "hitting bottom" before recovery can be initiated is consistent with the findings in this research. It was concluded that perhaps the central factor in "hitting bottom" is loss of self-esteem. It was hypothesized that not only is a gain in self-esteem important in the recovery process, but that those in the good prognosis group would develop meaningful, positive role expectations for sobriety and there would be a close correspondence between the perceived positivity or self, ideal self, and the role of recovered alcoholic. In addition, it was hypothesized that those with a good prognosis would develop a negative relationship between their self-positivity and their perception of their past drinking roles. Analysis of results lent support to the hypotheses mentioned above for prognostic groups based on counselor ratings. At the start of treatment neither the good nor the poor prognosis group showed any significant correlations in the perceived positivity among the roles of self, ideal self, practicing or recovered alcoholic. By the last week in treatment, the good prognosis group showed a significant positive correlation in positivity of self with both ideal self and the role of a recovered alcoholic, while there was a significant negative correlation between self and practicing alcoholic. Those in the poor prognosis group finished treatment showing no significant relationship between positivity of self and ideal self. Further analysis revealed no significant relationship between ideal self and either practicing or recovering alcoholic. These results suggest an important issue to address in treatment is the alcoholic's expectations for sobriety and how they conflict with his ideal values. While raising the alcoholic's self-esteem may be a necessary factor in recovery, without the development of positive meaningful role expectations for sobriety and a correspondence between ideal self and the newly entered role of recovering alcoholic, prognosis for long-term sobriety might be poor.

Subject Area

Psychotherapy

Recommended Citation

BLUM, STEVEN B, "CHANGES IN ALCOHOLICS' SELF-ESTEEM IN RELATIONSHIP TO PERCEPTIONS OF DRINKING AND SOBER ROLES DURING TREATMENT" (1980). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8109978.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8109978

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