| Alcohol use and abuse has been a consistent problem around the globe. The costs associated with initial treatment of alcohol abuse or dependency, as well as any associated health and safety expenses, extend into the millions of dollars. Researchers have found a connection between relapse reduction and social networking; however, this research has been limited to face-to-face contact. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between online social networks and alcoholic relapse by comparing the effectiveness of online social networking and face-to-face social networks in relationship to relapse prevention. Social learning and social network theories formed the theoretical foundation for the study. Chi-square, t-test, and logistic regression analyses were used to test seven specific hypotheses to determine the relationship between online social networking and relapse prevention. Relapse was measured by self-reported data on the whether the participants had experienced a relapse, and if so, how many during the course of their self-proclaimed recovery period. The results of this quantitative study showed that there was no difference between online and face-to-face social networking in preventing relapse. Although no relationship was discovered between online social networking and relapse prevention, this study demonstrated the importance of continued studies regarding the online environment in connection to health research. Implications for social change include new and improved uses of the Internet for health improvement. Internet use is growing nationwide, and its adoption for reducing poor health outcomes, in particular from behavioral choices such as alcohol abuse, could promote significant improvements in the health of the nation. |
