Table 5.
Negative Aspects of 12-step groups Scale: Clients and Clinicians Percent Agree/Strongly Agree and Factor Structure
| Clients | Clinicians | Factor Loading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| N = 101 | N = 102 | ||
| Stage of recovery limitation | |||
| Can't benefit from 12SG early in recovery | 18% | 3%** | .78 |
| 12SGs only helpful early in the recovery process | 17 | 4** | .66 |
| Need to achieve sobriety before starting 12SGs | 23 | 7** | .66 |
| Risks of participation | |||
| Can get retraumatized or triggered in a 12SG | 35% | 64%** | .86 |
| 12SGs can lead to pick up or relapse | 34 | 38 | .75 |
| Can become dependent on 12SGs | 55 | 67 | .61 |
| Religion and powerlessness | |||
| 12SGs can be too intense for some people | 68% | 56%** | .79 |
| Religious aspect of 12SGs is an obstacle for many | 61 | 30** | .63 |
| Emphasis on “powerlessness” can be dangerous | 48 | 29** | .63 |
| Lack of professionally trained leadership | |||
| 12SG meeting leaders dominate the rest of the group | 21% | 16%* | .74 |
| 12SG should seek professional guidance | 56 | 36** | .62 |
| 12SGs can be dangerous because the leaders are not professionally trained | 26 | 14** | .64 |
Mantel-Haenszel test for linear association
**
p<.01
*
p<.05