Green, Kelly Elizabeth. Client-guided treatment development for problem drinkers of various sexual orientations. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3KP82GD
DescriptionThe present study worked from a social learning perspective, addressed several of the methodological limitations of previous research, and provided empirical data on some of the unanswered questions related to drinking habits, barriers to treatment seeking, and treatment preferences in the lesbian/gay/bisexual community. Participants were recruited over the Internet from 5/19/2007 to 5/31/2008 for a web-based survey that provided personalized feedback on drinking habits to respondents. Overall, the sample (n = 218) was ethnically diverse, middle-aged, employed, college educated, 71% female, and 72% heterosexual. Though several sex differences and sexual orientation differences were found in reported rates of substance use, the groups appeared more similar than different in terms of motivation for treatment, barriers to treatment seeking, and treatment preferences. Severity of drinking was correlated with levels of drinking in social networks, and heterosexual respondents reported higher proportions of abstainers in their social networks than lesbian/gay/bisexual respondents. Results suggest individuals do not seek treatment for a wide range of reasons, including stigma, not seeing the need for treatment, and having negative thoughts about treatment. In terms of treatment preferences, 40% preferred professional outpatient treatment, 29% preferred a self-help group, 15% preferred a self-help book, and 16% preferred computerized treatment either online or with computerized sessions. Clinical implications and future research directions are discussed.