Measuring In-Group and Out-Group Helping in Communal Living: Helping and Substance Abuse Recovery

Abstract

With a national U.S. sample of communal-living residents in substance abuse recovery, the tendency to help members inside and/or outside their community was examined. Study 1 (n = 670) developed of the Communal Living In-Group Helping Scale to distinguish helping directed toward housemates vs. others. Study 2 (n = 419) used this communal helping measure and a general altruism scale to explore gender, ethnicity, and 12-Step sponsorship related to in-group (housemates) and out-group (others in the community) behaviors. Results revealed significant sex differences and significantly higher helping for both men and women was reported among 12-Step sponsors along two dimensions. Implications focused on gender-related differences in social helping interactions and in-group formation in recovery communities.