A Study of Family Involvement and Personal Change in Alcohol and Chemical Dependency Treatment
Authors:   , Reusink Rhonda 
Published: February 2023

The purpose of the researcher was to investigate personal change and family involvement/participation in the treatment of chemically dependent individuals. The 5 independent variables investigated were family involvement/participation, gender, age, marital status and level of formal education. The dependent variables were scores from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory scales 4 (Psychopathic Deviate), 6 (Paranoia), 9 (Hypomania) and 0 (Social Introversion). The sample consisted of 70 individuals who had been admitted to chemical dependency treatment. Five composite null hypotheses were tested employing a single-factor analysis of covariance at the .05 level of significance. A total of 20 comparisons were made employing a single-factor analysis of covariance at the .05 level of significance. Two of the 20 comparisons were statistically significant. The following were statistically significant at the .05 level: 1. the independent variable gender and the dependent variable Hypomania, and 2. the independent variable age and the dependent variable Social Introversion. The results of the present study indicated the following: 1. females had a statistically larger adjusted post mean Hypomania score than males, and 2. individuals over 50 years of age had a statistically larger adjusted post mean Social Introversion score than those younger. The statistically significant comparison appeared to indicate that males responded more positively to treatment than females and individuals age 50 and younger responded more positively than those over the age of 50. The results of the present study appeared to support the following generalizations: 1. family involvement/participation is not associated with personality change as measured by selected Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory scales (Psychopathic Deviate, Paranoia, Hypomania, and Social Introversion); 2. the gender of those who have family involvement/participation is not associated with personality change as measured by selected Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory scales (Psychopathic Deviate, Paranoia, and Social Introversion); 3. males who have family involvement/participation have lower hypomania than females; thus, males respond more positively to treatment than females. 4. the age of those who have family involvement/participation is not associated with personality change as measured by selected Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory scales (Psychopathic Deviate, Paranoia, and Hypomania); 5. individuals of 50 years of age and younger who have family involvement/participation have lower social introversion than those over the age of 50; thus individuals 50 years of age and younger respond more positively to treatment than those over 50; 6. the marital status of those who have family involvement/participation is not associated with personality change as measured by selected Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory scales (Psychopathic Deviate, Paranoia, Hypomania, and Social Introversion); 7. the amount of formal education of those who have family involvement/participation is not associated with personality change as measured by selected Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory scales (Psychopathic Deviate, Paranoia, Hypomania, and Social Introversion).