Abstract
The design, aims and rationale are outlined of a follow-up study of dropouts from Gamblers Anonymous. A cohort of those attending for the first time and dropping out after more than one meeting was contacted and the cooperators given a structured interview examining factors which may have contributed to decisions to dropout. A comparison group of continuers from the same meeting who had been totally abstinent for at least a year were given the same structured interviews. This first of four parts examines life context factors making it more difficult to maintain attendance, commitment to the treatment program, perceived pre-meeting expectations and reasons for coming, impacts of the first meeting, effects of pressures to maintain attendance and the influence of spouses.
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Hector Currie and David leSage were volunteer interviewers. A.J. Weir and J. G. Gillies read the manuscript and contributed corrections and suggestions. Without the vigorous cooperation of many members of the Glasgow Wednesday Group of Gamblers' Anonymous and especially without the meticulous recordkeeping of Pat and the moral and political support of Walter this study would not have been possible.
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Brown, R.I.F. Dropouts and continuers in Gamblers Anonymous: Life-context and other factors. J Gambling Stud 2, 130–140 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01019631
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01019631