Exploring the Relationship Between Religious Surrender, Commitment, and Readiness/Willingness to Address Substance Use

Additional Authors

Lilliana Roberts, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences and College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN. Camden Mills, Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences and Education, Milligan University, Elizabethton, TN. Angela Masiello, Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN. Andrea Clements, Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.

Abstract

There is limited knowledge about what influences people to engage and help those struggling with substance use, but literature has shown the church to be a vital resource for recovery. As social support seems to help assist those on the road to recovery, the question was asked: what predicts which individuals may be ready and willing to help others struggling with addiction? A study was designed to examine the variables of sex, having a loved one who struggles with addiction, and religious commitment in relation to someone’s readiness and willingness to help those struggling with addiction. We hypothesized that 1) religious commitment will significantly predict someone’s Readiness/Willingness to address addiction; 2) personal ties to addiction will also significantly predict someone’s Readiness/Willingness; 3) and religious commitment will be the strongest predictor in the model, followed by personal ties to addiction, and then sex. To examine how these variables predict a person’s Readiness/Willingness, 93 community members were surveyed, and results were evaluated through a hierarchical regression with three blocks. In Block 1, the demographic variable of sex was controlled for; in Block 2, sex and personal ties was examined; and in Block 3, all three variables were examined. Results indicated that Blocks 1 and 2 were non-significant — F(1,91) = 1.666, p = .200 and F(2, 90) = 1.100, p = .256, respectively, while Block 3 was significant — F(3, 89) = 23.863, p = .001. All three predictors accounted for 23.5% of variance in Readiness/Willingness to address addiction. Based on the results, when compared with sex and personal ties to addiction, religious commitment is the strongest predictor for readiness and willingness to help those struggling with addiction. Understanding these intrinsic motivations for people to help address addiction can help programs further equip individuals, specifically in the realm of religiosity.

Start Time

16-4-2025 9:00 AM

End Time

16-4-2025 11:30 AM

Presentation Type

Poster

Presentation Category

Social Sciences

Student Type

Undergraduate Student

Faculty Mentor

Andrea Clements

Faculty Department

Psychology

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Apr 16th, 9:00 AM Apr 16th, 11:30 AM

Exploring the Relationship Between Religious Surrender, Commitment, and Readiness/Willingness to Address Substance Use

There is limited knowledge about what influences people to engage and help those struggling with substance use, but literature has shown the church to be a vital resource for recovery. As social support seems to help assist those on the road to recovery, the question was asked: what predicts which individuals may be ready and willing to help others struggling with addiction? A study was designed to examine the variables of sex, having a loved one who struggles with addiction, and religious commitment in relation to someone’s readiness and willingness to help those struggling with addiction. We hypothesized that 1) religious commitment will significantly predict someone’s Readiness/Willingness to address addiction; 2) personal ties to addiction will also significantly predict someone’s Readiness/Willingness; 3) and religious commitment will be the strongest predictor in the model, followed by personal ties to addiction, and then sex. To examine how these variables predict a person’s Readiness/Willingness, 93 community members were surveyed, and results were evaluated through a hierarchical regression with three blocks. In Block 1, the demographic variable of sex was controlled for; in Block 2, sex and personal ties was examined; and in Block 3, all three variables were examined. Results indicated that Blocks 1 and 2 were non-significant — F(1,91) = 1.666, p = .200 and F(2, 90) = 1.100, p = .256, respectively, while Block 3 was significant — F(3, 89) = 23.863, p = .001. All three predictors accounted for 23.5% of variance in Readiness/Willingness to address addiction. Based on the results, when compared with sex and personal ties to addiction, religious commitment is the strongest predictor for readiness and willingness to help those struggling with addiction. Understanding these intrinsic motivations for people to help address addiction can help programs further equip individuals, specifically in the realm of religiosity.