Award Date
1-1-2003
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Sociology
First Committee Member
Kathryn Hausbeck
Number of Pages
122
Abstract
This study examines the process of same-sex bonding within the Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) women's community. More specifically, this research measures the impact of same-sex bonding on life-satisfaction and length of sobriety for alcoholic women in A.A. Linear regression analyses of survey data from female A.A. members (N = 293) indicate (1) a statistically significant relationship between Respondents' same-sex social bonding and life-satisfaction, and (2) that the effect of this social bonding on the number of years respondents have remained sober is mediated by life-satisfaction. Therefore, it is likely that higher female bonding scores among women lead to higher life-satisfaction and, in turn, higher life-satisfaction leads to longer sobriety terms. This model is supported by qualitative data gathered from ten volunteer survey respondents. Informants indicated that their self-transformations resulted in a positive attitude change toward same-sex bonding; in addition, sexual dynamics may play a role in such change. Future research should explore these relationships.
Keywords
Alcoholics; Anonymous; Bonding; Impact; Recovering; Social; Women
Controlled Subject
Social psychology; Women's studies; Social psychology
File Format
File Size
4116.48 KB
Degree Grantor
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Language
English
Permissions
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Repository Citation
Wininger, Tina Marie, "Women recovering in Alcoholics Anonymous: The impact of social bonding" (2003). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 1570.
http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/s5bx-078s
Rights
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