"It is probably less stigmatizing for men to seek addiction treatment than for women” : A qualitative study on how social workers perceive how gender influences treatment in substance abuse care
Year: 2024
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Addiction is a problem in Sweden that affects both men and women, but their needs and vulnerability can differ. This study aims to investigate how staff in addiction care experience categorization, gender norms and stigmatization processes lead to different types of vulnerability depending on the client’s gender, and how this affects the treatment process. The study uses qualitative, semi-structured interviews with seven social workers in western Sweden and analyzes data using theories of stigma and gender. Results show that women in active addiction are considered to be more vulnerable in relationships compared to men. Social workers also believed that female addicts experience stronger stigma from the outside world in connection with their addiction and gender, but that both men and women are shamed based on their addiction. Male addicts were more vulnerable in crime and had a harder time expressing their fear as a whole compared to women, which according to social workers may be due to existing gender norms about how a man should act. However, there were similarities mainly in the form of both men and women feeling that they have to seek help for their addiction, as they prefer to deal with it on their own. Social workers noted that they do not currently have single-gender groups due to a lack of resources such as money and time, but that they want to start a women's group first and foremost, while a men's group was mentioned less often but still considered important to create. Overall, the social workers felt that it’s not methods such as CBT that need to be changed, but group dynamics in order for treatment process to be optimal. Specific topics such as sexuality, potency problems or pain problems in connection with menstruation could be more easily discussed in gender-segregated groups.
Authors: Fagerström Jansson, Evelina, Viberg, Josefin
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7010787594