Single Alcoholics’ Commitment to Danshukai

Abstract

Processes of Single alcoholics’ commitment to Danshukai were investigated. Danshukai is a self-help group for people that want to quit alcohol. Generally, middle-aged men have participated in Danshukai over the long term with their wives, and express feelings of atonement for the wives. However, recently, the number of participants without their spouse has been increasing. Therefore, it is necessary to examine factors related to the new type of participants’ commitment to Danshukai, which is a social resource for dealing with alcohol use disorders. Interviews were conducted with single participants in Danshukai who have overcome alcohol use disorders (N=10) about the episodes related to their commitment to Danshukai, and the data were analyzed using the Modified Grounded Theory Approach. The results indicated 17 concepts and 6 categories. At first, single participants became aware of their uniqueness through “approaches from senior members”. Moreover, they had “difficulties because they were a minority”. Then, they tried to “model themselves after” other participants. Developing “a spread of connection” and gaining “the position of helpers” were mentioned as factors that stabilized commitment. “Continuous participation in Danshukai” was achieved through the above experiences. Correlations between single participants’ experiences and findings related to self-help groups are discussed.