Using Social Media for Sobriety Recovery: Beliefs, Behaviors, and Surprises From Users of Face-to-Face and Social Media Sobriety Support

The rapid migration of social life online-including social support-is a topic of current interest. This research reports the development of a survey designed to compare preferences for mediated versus face-to-face (F2F) social support in an important health context: sobriety recovery. The SSPS (Sobriety Support Preference Scale) consisting of 2 parallel subscales representing preference for mediated (α = 0.94) versus F2F (α = 0.91) support was developed for use in this study. One hundred and ninety-six adults (141 female) who reported using both mediated and face-to-face sobriety support completed the SSPS. Results indicated that respondents preferred F2F over mediated sobriety support, although there were positive reactions to mediated support. Participants reported that they felt it was easier for them to be honest in F2F than mediated settings. However, results also indicated that participants reported specifically (a) lying more about their sobriety success and (b) being drunk or high more often while attending F2F sessions than while participating via mediated sobriety support. Frequency of attendance for F2F, but not mediated, support was positively correlated with sobriety success. Post hoc analyses suggest that results varied based on whether participants were recovery professionals in addition to being in recovery. Future research might profitably adapt the 2 subscales of the SSPS to fit other contexts where comparison of mediated and F2F social support efficacy and attitudes are sought.