@article{ref1,
title="Understanding the social and community support experiences of sexual and gender minority individuals in 12-Step programs",
journal="Journal of gay and lesbian social services",
year="2023",
author="McGeough, Briana L. and Paceley, Meg and Zemore, Sarah E. and Lunn, Mitchell R. and Obedin-Maliver, Juno and Lubensky, Micah E. and Flentje, Annesa",
volume="35",
number="4",
pages="398-419",
abstract="Sexual and gender minority individuals (e.g., gay, bisexual, non-binary, transgender; SGMI) are 2-6 times as likely as cisgender heterosexual individuals to experience alcohol or other substance use disorders. SGMI participate in 12-Step groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), at high rates. Though social support is an established mechanism through which 12-Step programs support reductions in substance use, little is known about SGMI's experiences of the social support in 12-Step programs. This qualitative study aims to understand the experiences of social and community support among SGMI involved in 12-Step programs. This study employed thematic analysis to interpret open-ended responses from 302 SGMI who had participated in 12-Step programs. Data was from The PRIDE Study, a large, national, online. longitudinal, cohort study of SGMI. Two themes emerged about how SGMI experienced social and community support in 12-Step programs: beneficial connections and harmful environments. Beneficial connections included a sense of community, shared experiences, and skills provision. Harmful environments included marginalization, oppression, violence, and bullying. This study highlights the variability of experiences of SGMI participating in 12-Step programs. These findings suggest that many SGMI may benefit from 12-Step programs but may need support in coping with potential harms that can emerge through participation.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1053-8720",
doi="10.1080/10538720.2023.2172759",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10538720.2023.2172759"
}