Date of Conferral

9-25-2026

Date of Award

September 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Human Services

Advisor

Barbara Benoliel

Abstract

Despite the high prevalence of substance use disorder among adult women in the United States, treatment engagement remains low, particularly for women experiencing co-occurring substance use disorder and compulsive sexual behavior. Although stigma is a documented barrier for individuals with substance use or compulsive sexual behavior in accessing and remaining engaged in behavioral health services, its effects on treatment access for adult women with co-occurring substance and compulsive sexual behavior have not been adequately scrutinized. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore how human services and behavioral health professionals perceive stigma experienced by adult women with co-occurring substance use disorder and compulsive sexual behavior and how these professionals describe its influence on treatment access and engagement. The study was grounded in Goffman's stigma theory and featured a qualitative research design. Data were collected by conducting semistructured interviews with seven human services and behavioral health professionals who had experience providing services to women with co-occurring substance use and compulsive sexual behavior. Interview data were interpreted by engaging in reflexive thematic analysis supported by qualitative data analysis. Two themes (social sanctions and stigma and individual trauma and coping) and 11 subthemes were identified. The findings further understanding of how stigma influences clinical perceptions and treatment, with implications for stigma-responsive and trauma-informed practices. The study may support positive social change by informing strategies to reduce stigma-related barriers to care and promote equitable access to behavioral health services for women.

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