%0 Journal Article
%@ 2368-7959
%I JMIR Publications
%V 6
%N 8
%P e13352
%T Characterizing Participation and Perceived Engagement Benefits in an Integrated Digital Behavioral Health Recovery Community for Women: A Cross-Sectional Survey
%A Curtis,Brenda
%A Bergman,Brandon
%A Brown,Austin
%A McDaniel,Jessica
%A Harper,Kristen
%A Eisenhart,Emily
%A Hufnagel,Mariel
%A Heller,Anne Thompson
%A Ashford,Robert
%+ Substance Use Disorders Institute, University of the Sciences, 2111 Melvin St, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, United States, 1 817 614 4302, rashford@mail.usciences.edu
%K substance use disorder
%K mHealth
%K mental health
%K substance addiction
%K rehabilitation
%D 2019
%7 26.08.2019
%9 Original Paper
%J JMIR Ment Health
%G English
%X Background: Research suggests that digital recovery support services (D-RSSs) may help support individual recovery and augment the availability of in-person supports. Previous studies highlight the use of D-RSSs in supporting individuals in recovery from substance use but have yet to examine the use of D-RSSs in supporting a combination of behavioral health disorders, including substance use, mental health, and trauma. Similarly, few studies on D-RSSs have evaluated gender-specific supports or integrated communities, which may be helpful to women and individuals recovering from behavioral health disorders. Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the SHE RECOVERS (SR) recovery community, with the following 3 aims: (1) to characterize the women who engage in SR (including demographics and recovery-related characteristics), (2) describe the ways and frequency in which participants engage with SR, and (3) examine the perception of benefit derived from engagement with SR. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional survey to examine the characteristics of SR participants. Analysis of variance and chi-square tests, as well as univariate logistic regressions, were used to explore each aim. Results: Participants (N=729, mean age 46.83 years; 685/729, 94% Caucasian) reported being in recovery from a variety of conditions, although the most frequent nonexclusive disorder was substance use (86.40%, n=630). Participants had an average length in recovery (LIR) of 6.14 years (SD 7.87), with most having between 1 and 5 years (n=300). The most frequently reported recovery pathway was abstinence-based 12-step mutual aid (38.40%). Participants reported positive perceptions of benefit from SR participation, which did not vary by LIR or recovery pathway. Participants also had high rates of agreement, with SR having a positive impact on their lives, although this too did vary by recovery length and recovery pathway. Participants with 1 to 5 years of recovery used SR to connect with other women in recovery at higher rates, whereas those with less than 1 year used SR to ask for resources at higher rates, and those with 5 or more years used SR to provide support at higher rates. Lifetime engagement with specific supports of SR was also associated with LIR and recovery pathway. Conclusions: Gender-specific and integrated D-RSSs are feasible and beneficial from the perspective of participants. D-RSSs also appear to provide support to a range of recovery typologies and pathways in an effective manner and may be a vital tool for expanding recovery supports for those lacking in access and availability because of geography, social determinants, or other barriers. 
%M 31452520
%R 10.2196/13352
%U http://mental.jmir.org/2019/8/e13352/
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/13352
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31452520