Understanding of and attitudes toward abstaining alcoholics and factors affecting such attitudes

Abstract

This study investigated understanding of and attitudes toward abstaining alcoholics as well as factors affecting such attitudes. A questionnaire was mailed to each participant (N=596). Participants were over 20 years of age. Two hundred and sixty-one respondents completed and returned the questionnaire. The results indicated that approximately half of the participants understood that alcohol dependency was a “disease.” However, their knowledge of alcohol dependency is inconsistent. Furthermore, the closer a participant was to an abstaining alcoholic, the more negative was his or her attitude. The following beliefs also had a positive influence on such attitudes : the possibility of involvement in problems related to alcoholics, cognitions related to whether alcohol dependent people could continue abstaining, and awareness that people around alcoholics might also become dependent on alcohol. Results suggested that future intervention programs designed to change attitudes should consider incorporating education to increase awareness regarding the aforementioned beliefs.