Enhancement of Quality of Life of Alcoholics and the Role of Peer Support

首先，本研究探讨质性研究在社会工作中的意义。定性研究的目的是通过定性的数据分析，提出模型或假设，或对现象进行深入的描述。在质的研究的认识论中，“真理”不是永恒的，它依赖于社会文化或历史语境。研究人员参与到数据中，这些数据在他们之外并不存在。此外，质性研究将使社会工作者或其他类型的从业者的新视角。根据这样一个方法论框架，我们应用访谈和定性分析的成员从酗酒者匿名（AA），以检查他们是如何实践的AA计划，为他们的康复。我们特别关注生活质量的精神方面。通过本研究，我们发现了一个假设，即在AA成员的恢复过程中，他们利用一个群体中的权力游戏以及恢复程序，这样的恢复过程是基于“不可能完美”和更高的权力概念。在戒酒会中，成员可以通过接受人的有限性和能力的极限来戒酒。这是因为更高的力量。更高的力量永远不会自己出现。然而，尽管如此，更高的权力规定了成员的生活方式。AA成员根据这项研究的采访谈到“更高的权力是使我有可能生活的东西。“因此，更高的力量只能用隐喻来表达。通过对一位社会工作者的访谈和定性分析，我们发现互助会中的同伴支持不仅有助于提高成员的生活质量，而且有助于专业人员的实践转变。

First, this research examined significance of qualitative study in social work. The aim of qualitative study is genesis of model or hypothesis, or thick description of phenomena through qualitative data analysis. The "truth" is not eternal depending on socio-cultural or historical context in qualitative inquiry's epistemology. Researchers are involved to the data, which does not exist outside them. Also, qualitative research will make new perspective from social workers or other kinds of practitioners. According to such a methodological framework, we applied interview and qualitative analysis with members from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) to examine how they are practicing the programs of AA for their recovery. We focused on a spiritual aspect of quality of life especially. Through this research, we found the hypothesis that in recovering processes of AA members, they utilize power games in a group as well as the programs of recovery and such a recovering process is based on the "impossibility of being perfect" and the concept of the Higher Power. In AA, a member can do stop drinking by accepting man's finitude and the limit of capability. It becomes possible by the Higher Power. The Higher Power never appears in itself. However, nevertheless, the Higher Power regulates a member's way of life. AA member according to the interview of this research talked "The Higher Power is something that make me possible to live." Thus, the Higher Power can be expressed only with a metaphor. Through interview and qualitative analysis with a social worker, we examined that peer supports in AA help not only members' quality of life to be enhanced, but also helping professionals' practices to be transformed.