Gender in relation to relapse crisis situations, coping, and outcome among treated alcoholics

Abstract

Relapse crisis situations resulting in successful coping (i.e., abstinence) and unsuccessful coping (i.e., relapse) were examined in 90 male and 35 female alcohol clients over the first 12 weeks following treatment discharge. More similarities than differences were observed between the genders in the relapse crisis situations encountered, the number 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 behavioral coping was most frequently used by both genders, and negative emotional states constituted the most commonly reported relapse crisis situation. Survival of a relapse crisis was strongly associated with the number of coping strategies used by both men and women. There was a nonsignificant trend for females to relapse more frequently in negative affect situations (i.e., negative emotions, conflict with others) and males in the presence of other drinkers. Further studies employing larger sample sizes are needed to examine gender differences in the process of relapse.