 |
Research
Projects
Donate
Online to Support ABRC Research
Volunteer
|
|
|
|
Project duration:
09/2000-08/2003
Sponsor: National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Award: $294,835
The broad, long-term objectives of this project were to reduce alcohol
and other drug problems and related criminal recidivism
among incarcerated individuals through development of a spiritually-based
meditation intervention, and to develop a better understanding of the
role of spirituality in promoting change following participation in
such an intervention. The specific aims of the research
were to: (1)
evaluate the effectiveness of Vipassana meditation for reducing alcohol
use, alcohol- related negative consequences, and criminal recidivism
in a correctional population; (2) evaluate several domains of spirituality
as potential mediators of the effectiveness of Vipassana meditation
on alcohol and substance abuse outcomes among inmates who volunteer
for
the meditation program, and (3) evaluate participant characteristics
as predictors of willingness to volunteer to participate Vipassana
meditation. Effectiveness was evaluated through a 6-month
follow-up of inmates
from the North Rehabilitation Facility in King Country (Seattle) Washington,
who voluntarily participated in a Vipassana meditation course, compared
to case-matched controls identified from a random sample of inmates
drawn from the same population at the same time. Vipassana
participants
and case-matched controls completed baseline,
post-intervention, 3- and 6-month assessments of alcohol and substance
use and problems, substance use diagnosis, psychiatric symptoms, several
multidimensional measures of spirituality and religiosity, and social
desirability. In addition, criminal history and recidivism were
obtained through extraction from King County and Washington State
records, including
arrests, incarcerations, probation violations, and convictions. Vipassana
volunteers were compared to a random sample of 500 male and
110 female, inmates at baseline, to evaluate predictors of volunteering
for Vipassana.
For a list of related publications, click here.
|
