Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access originally published online on March 18, 2009
Alcohol and Alcoholism 2009 44(4):416-422; doi:10.1093/alcalc/agp014
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The Role of AA Sponsors: A Pilot Study
1 Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, North Westminster Older Adults Community Mental Health Team, Latimer House, 40 Hanson Street, London W1W 6UL, UK
2 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, Box 048, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
3 Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Box P082, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
4 Department of Psychiatry, Stanford School of Medicine, 401 North Quarry Road, Room C-305, Stanford, CA 94305-5717, USA
* Corresponding author: Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, North Westminster Older Adults Community Mental Health Team, Latimer House, 40 Hanson Street, London W1W 6UL, UK. Tel: +44-207-6121672; Fax: +44-207-6370545; E-mail: paul.whelan{at}nhs.net
Received 11 December 2008; first review notified 21 January 2009; in revised form 21 February 2009; accepted 24 February 2009; advance access publication 18 March 2009
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Abstract |
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Aims: The aim of this study was to explore the roles of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) sponsors and to describe the characteristics of a sample of sponsors. Methods: Twenty-eight AA sponsors, recruited using a purposive sampling method, were administered an unstructured qualitative interview and standardized questionnaires. The measurements included: a content analysis of sponsors’ responses; Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire—Community version (SADQ-C) and Alcoholics Anonymous Affiliation Scale (AAAS). Results: Sample characteristics were as follows: the median length of AA attendance was 9.5 years (range 5–28); the median length of sobriety was 11 years (range 4.5–28); the median number of sponsees per sponsor was 1 but there was a wide range (0–17, interquartile range 3.75); and the sponsors were highly affiliated to AA (median AAAS score 8.75, range 5.5–8.75, maximum possible score 9). Past alcohol dependence scores were surprisingly low: 5 (18%) sponsors had mild, 14 (50%) moderate and 9 (32%) severe dependence according to the SADQ-C (median 26.5, range 11–56). Sponsorship roles were as follows: 16 roles were identified through the initial content analysis. These were distilled into three super-ordinate roles through a thematic analysis: (1) encouraging sponsees to work the programme of AA (doing the 12 steps and engaging in AA activity); (2) support (regular contact, emotional support and practical support); and (3) carrying the message of AA (sharing sponsor's personal experience of recovery with sponsees). Conclusions: The roles identified broadly corresponded with the AA literature delineating the duties of a sponsor. This non-random sample of sponsors was highly engaged in AA activity but only had a past history of moderate alcohol dependence.