PSYCHOSOCIAL STRENGTHS AND NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME SUBSTANCE ABUSERS IN RECOVERY

Psychosocial heterogeneity among recovering substance users is not well understood. Cluster analysis was used to identify subgroups with distinct psychosocial profiles among a low-income sample attending a community recovery center (n = 151). Psychosocial characteristics assessed included depressive symptoms, perceived social support, self-efficacy, and coping. A 3-cluster solution explained the most variance in the constructs assessed (R2 = 0.72). The largest cluster (38.4% of the sample) was characterized as “distressed,” with high emotional distress and few psychosocial resources. The second largest (34.2%) was characterized as “adjusted” because of its generally positive pattern of psychosocial functioning. The smallest (27.4%) was characterized as “resilient” because this cluster displayed emotional strengths despite low perceived social support. Findings have implications for tailoring interventions for this vulnerable population.