earticle

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Objectives: The purpose of the study is to examine empirically predictive variables of homeless participants in a therapeutic community (TC) alcohol dependence program in order to analyze the program’s effectiveness. Methods: This study analyzed administrative data from 306 homeless alcohol dependent persons who joined a therapeutic community from September 1998 to June 2012. The data included sociodemographic characteristics, experience of homelessness, psychological characteristics such as abstinence self- efficacy, and the stages of change and levels of lifestyle measured by staff (SAS). Results: First, the rate of completion of the TC program was 29.4%. Second, the results of t-tests did not reveal significant differences in sociodemographic characteristics, abstinence self-efficacy and the stages of change between the drop-out and the completion groups. However, significant differences were found in the experience of homelessness, total SAS scores, and the four factors of SAS. Third, the logistic regression analysis revealed that the following factors were significant: the experience of reentry, total SAS scores of SAS, and the factor of roles as a community among four factors of SAS. Conclusions: The research showed that early adaptation as well as active mutual interaction and involvement among colleagues in a TC program are key predictive factors of the recovery of alcohol dependent homeless persons. The study indicates a number of further areas for research on the effectiveness of TC programs.