Individual and contextual predictors of involvement in twelve-step self-help groups after substance abuse treatment

Drawing on ecological and narrative theories of self-help groups, this stud y tests a multilevel model predicting self-help group involvement among mal e veterans who received inpatient substance abuse treatment. Following K. M aton (1993), the study moves beyond the individual-level of analysis to enc ompass variables in the treatment and post-treatment social ecology. Survey s administered to patients (N = 3,018) and treatment staff (N = 329) assess ed these predictor domains and self-help group involvement I year after dis charge. A hierarchical linear model fit to the data indicates that greater involvement in 12-step groups after discharge is predicted by the compatibi lity between personal and treatment belief systems. The implications of the se findings for efforts to facilitate transitions between inpatient profess ional treatment and community-based self-help groups are discussed.