Treatment seeking and subsequent 1-year drinking outcomes among treatment clients in Sweden and the U.S.A.: A cross-cultural comparison

Cross-cultural comparisons provide a method for distinguishing unique aspects as well as shared aspects of different cultures. Theoretically framed by a health-services conceptual model, we examine the extent that culture-specific versus common characteristics are associated with treatment seeking and drinking outcome. Swedish (n = 997) and U.S. (n = 501) alcohol-dependent individuals were interviewed at baseline and 1-year (n = 635 and n = 384 respectively). Both studies gathered comparable background, help-seeking, and drinking data. Regression models tested predictors of 1-year follow-up drinking defined as abstinence or moderate drinking versus heavy drinking. Swedish individuals were older and had social networks comprised mostly of substance abusers compared to U.S. individuals who reported higher problem severity and greater drug involvement. Whereas U.S. individuals reported greater prior mutual-help attendance, Swedish individuals reported greater prior treatment involvement. Better 1-year drinking outcomes were reported by women, younger age groups and those with an abstinence goal in both samples. Cultural and institutional differences were apparent. For example, with Swedish individuals having a mostly non-using network predicted better outcomes, whereas lower problem severity was a predictor for U.S. individuals.

► This is a cross-cultural analysis of U.S. and Swedish treatment seekers.
► Differences and commonalties were found in who goes to treatment in the samples.
► Cultural differences were found for factors associated with drink outcomes.
► Better 1-year drink outcomes were reported by the women in both samples.