The Role of Optimism and Abstinence in the Mechanism Underlying the Indirect Links of Religious and Spiritual Involvement with the Happiness of Alcoholics Anonymous from Poland

Abstract

Religiosity and spirituality are important factors for recovery of alcohol-addicted individuals. Previous studies have given some suggestions about the spiritual mechanism that influences the wellbeing of representatives of this group. The purpose of this research was to examine whether religious practices and spiritual experiences are indirectly related, through optimism and duration of abstinence, to the happiness of alcohol-dependent individuals participating in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The study had a cross-sectional design; path analysis in structural equation modeling was used. The sample consisted of 115 AA participants in Poland. The Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale (DSES) was used in the study, along with questionnaires surveying three indicators of happiness—desire for life, passion for life, and evaluation of current happiness—along with four further measures—optimism, length of abstinence, frequency of prayer, and frequency of Mass attendance. Confirmed indirect relationship between spiritual experiences and happiness through optimism and the abstinence duration and indirect links between religious practices and happiness. Among AA participants, religious practices were positively related to spiritual growth, which via longer abstinence and higher levels of optimism, were indirectly related to improved happiness. The research results indicate a beneficial role played by religious practices and spiritual experiences in AA participants, associated with their happiness and relevant variables such as optimism and abstinence duration.