J Korean Acad Nurs.  2017 Apr;47(2):267-276. 10.4040/jkan.2017.47.2.267.

The Recovery Process of Alcohol Dependent Men Living in a Therapeutic Community

• Kang S

• KMID: 2426352
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2017.47.2.267

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to explore the recovering process of men who had abused alcohol and has lived in a therapeutic community.
METHODS
Individual in-depth interviews were used to collect data from 10 of these men who has lived in the therapeutic community for more than one year. Qualitative data from field notes and transcribed notes were analyzed using the grounded theory methodology developed by Strauss and Corbin.
RESULTS
The core category about the recovering process of the men who had abused alcohol and are now in the therapeutic community was identified as "reconstructing a broken life". The recovering process of these men in the therapeutic community consisted of four phases; "˜self-awareness stage', "˜unfreezing stage', "˜readjustment stage', and "˜challenging stage'.
CONCLUSION
In this study "reconstructing a broken life", as the core category vividly showed joys and sorrows of men who had abused alcohol and has lived in the recovering process of managing the yoke of life-long disease. In this process of recovery from alcoholic dependence the men gradually adjusted themselves to their given condition. Also they gained coping strategies to care for, and protect themselves. Therefore health care providers can establish supportive programs in the clinical field to empower these men by reflecting their proactive coping strategies.

Keyword

Male; Alcoholics; Therapeutic community; Recovery; Qualitative research

MeSH Terms

*Adaptation, Psychological
Alcoholism/*psychology
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Middle Aged
Program Evaluation
Qualitative Research
Therapeutic Community

Figure

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  Figure 1 A theoretical diagram of the recovering process for men with alcohol addiction living in a therapeutic community.

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