The purpose of this study is two-fold: (1) to understand the nature of alcoholics' life experiences (2) to explore the meaning of the experiences. The study was performed by examining three questions: firstly, what are life experiences of alcoholics' ...
The purpose of this study is two-fold: (1) to understand the nature of alcoholics' life experiences (2) to explore the meaning of the experiences. The study was performed by examining three questions: firstly, what are life experiences of alcoholics' life? secondly, what types of phenomena they show from their experiences? thirdly, what implications do the experiences reveal? I utilized analytical phenomenology by Max Van Manen and made use of photovoice to help better state the stories of the research participants as well as paying attention to alcoholics' stories in the process of collecting data.
The participants of the study are among male alcoholics who were diagnosed as alcoholism and hospitalized, especially nine people who are hospitalized now or maintained abstinence in the midst of recovery after discharging from hospital. Sampling was accomplished for people who fit the standards and they were selected by basic sampling method. Intensive in-depth interview was carried out for data collection for participants from over thirty minutes to two hours and thirty minutes from July 1st to September 27th and interviews were done at least three times to six times. Photos and description of photos and group activities were used for data collection methods along with in-depth interviews through six sessions of photovoice workshop. I attempted to enhance understandings of self-reflection through data collection and appreciation in literature and paintings and to provide insight to the theme by using literature and photovoice photos in analysis.
As a result, I drew out 22 elucidated themes on life experiences of alcoholics and thus examined final 8 essential themes. So the essential themes that I discovered from life experiences of alcoholics are as follows. <To put under the wheels of suffering : passing down alcoholism, living under the circumstance of childhood pain and hard environment> < To fall into a swamp called alcohol, beginning to drink, falling in, character- more distorted, alcohol-led life, selfish and corrupted life>, <To be labeled as an alcoholic: contracted a disease called alcoholism : difficulties caused by alcohol>, <My reality, my life : hospitalized at a mental hospital, prolonged a life vs imprisoned, isolated from family and community - living as an outcast>, <To struggle to live : difficulty to maintain abstinence, living in cold, hard reality, occupation: two-edged sword>, <endless bondage of pain and suffering : relapse- everything falling apart, anxiety and fear due to frequent relapse, alcoholism and death>, <Acceptance- totally different life: me as an alcoholic - acceptance of me and my life, spiritual change, restoration through AA, feeling of things restored>, <To walk the way in honesty and humility : The key to a new life- alcoholism, my life that I would like to live from now on- soaring>
Practical implication of social welfare based on these analysis is as follows.
First, drinking problem of adolescence in life cycle should not be understood as a transitional phenomenon but should be continuously controlled and examined from long term perspective including beginning to end of adolescence. Second, going through hospital treatment as an alcoholic has a great meaning in their life and it is necessary to have systematic, integrated and standardized professional treatment on alcoholism. Third, it is essential to have strong social support, substantial hospital treatment for continuous care in hospital treatment for alcoholism. Fourth, more active involvement of family treatment is required. Fifth, the change of paradigm is essential in involvement of mental health professionals in alcoholism problem. Sixth, it is significant to understand the importance of spirituality of alcoholics' restoration in the area of mental health. Practical methods and programs are urgent for spiritual change and maturity. Finally, it is requested for mental health professionals to have conversion of understanding in terms of relapse of alcoholics in the process of abstinence.
Political implication of this study is as follows. First, it is necessary to have preventative projects nationwide to enhance right understanding of drinking culture and alcoholism, which leads to reduction of domestic and national expense due to alcoholism and of personal difficultly of alcoholics themselves. Second, national efforts are essential to establish standards for alcoholics' hospital treatment. Third, political support and standardized treatment are vital to constitute systematic network of community resources to maintain abstinence for restoration after hospitalization.
The significance of the study through the results are as follows. First, this study is to explore overall life experience of alcoholic patients. Second, I utilized photovoice in performing qualitative research on the life of alcoholics. Third, participants had a chance to reflect on their lives through the process of this study and above all, they experienced self introspection and spiritual maturity while preparing photovoice. Photovoice played an indispensable role in strengthening participants' ability and became very valuable practical method in defending policy in terms of social welfare practice. In addition, photovoice became a starting point of a new possibility of practical method.
The significance I discovered through research result and discussion was very important but now I would like to make a few suggestions for a better study.
First, this study focused on male alcoholic's life experience so there is a certain degree of limitation to reflect experience of every alcoholics. It would be meaningful to compare and contrast male alcoholics' experiences with their female counterparts through qualitative research on female alcoholics' life. Also this study was restricted in a region so it would be desirable to research more broadly towards a variety of alcoholics. Second, photovoice was utilized as a method of collecting data in this study. While participants took part in the study through photovoice for a short period, they went through self introspection and accomplished spiritual maturity. Therefore what changes they accomplished practically through photovoice and for example, various quantitative study will be done integratively on participants' spiritual change, change of motives, change of methods, etc. actual use of photovoice will be supported in social welfare practice. Third, the role of photovoice is that the participants' stories were conveyed to others honestly and effectively so it helps participants get empathy. It can be an effective tool for policy by means of photos. Therefore the photos that participants took on the life of alcoholics can be utilized in an organization and in public or to support policy. Furthermore they can be used for social welfare practice in a more active level. photo exhibition by using photovoice could be meaningful resource in connection with other resources in the future.