Hm. Annis et al., GENDER IN RELATION TO RELAPSE CRISIS SITUATIONS, COPING, AND OUTCOME AMONG TREATED ALCOHOLICS, Addictive behaviors, 23(1), 1998, pp. 127-131
Relapse crisis situations resulting in successful coping (i.e., abstin
ence) and unsuccessful coping (i.e., relapse) were examined in 90 male
and 35 female alcohol clients over the first 12 weeks following treat
ment discharge. More similarities than differences were observed betwe
en the genders in the relapse crisis situations encountered, the numbe
r and type of coping strategies used, and the drinking outcome results
. A similar proportion of males and females successfully abstained in
the first 12 weeks posttreatment; a combination of cognitive and behav
ioral coping was most frequently used by both genders, and negative em
otional states constituted the most commonly reported relapse crisis s
ituation. Survival of a relapse crisis was strongly associated with th
e number of coping strategies used by both men and women. There was a
nonsignificant trend for females to relapse more frequently in negativ
e affect situations (i.e., negative emotions, conflict with others) an
d males in the presence of other drinkers. Further studies employing l
arger sample sizes are needed to examine gender differences in the pro
cess of relapse. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.