Date of Conferral

12-18-2024

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Human Services

Advisor

Nicole Hamilton

Abstract

Many rural areas in the United States have experienced an opioid crisis. Social support programs could be created to address social support for the families affected by opioid addiction. The purpose of this non-experimental, cross-sectional research study was to examine the possible relationship between (a) prescription or non-prescription addiction; (b) opioid addiction or another addiction; (c) the amount of family social support of a family member who has ongoing interactions with the individual struggling with addiction; and (d) stress of the family member in a rural area. Bowen’s family systems theory provided the theoretical framework for the study. A non-probability sampling was used to identify participants and a convenience method to increase participation and collect the participant's data. An electronic questionnaire disseminated from a recovery center located in a region (north United States). A multiple linear regression was used to analyze the data collected from 40 participants. Within the results, it was found that the results had sufficiency problems because the sample size was not met. All support scales were removed and the ADF total support scale and stress were analyzed, which resulted in nonsignificant findings, but the measurement of the variables did meet the assumption for the multiple linear regression. These issues contributed to poor generalizability. The results could only be applied to a narrow population taken from a sample as there were no significant differences and the findings were inconclusive. This study has a plethora of opportunities to address social change. Lack of social support is deficient in many communities and stress negative or positive is infringed on communities especially in rural areas where services are limited.

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