The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate childhood trauma, current trauma-related symptoms, substance use characteristics, motivation for treatment, and socio-demographic characteristics, in predicting the retention of women in an urban, residential substance abuse treatment program as they re-enter the community from incarceration. Specific Aims. The specific aims were to: (1) Identify childhood trauma, current trauma-related characteristics, substance use characteristics, motivation for treatment, and socio-demographic characteristics that predict length of stay (LOS) for previously incarcerated women in a community-based residential substance abuse treatment program. (2) Identify the best predictive model of LOS for previously incarcerated women in a community-based residential substance abuse treatment program. Methods. A longitudinal, prospective study was conducted with participants as they entered a community-based, residential substance abuse treatment program designed for women offenders. All participants were interviewed within the first week of admission. Participants completed the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and the Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI). Length of stay (LOS) for each study participant was tracked for six months ( n = 105). Bivariate analyses were used to determine relationships among pairs of variables. Variables that were significantly correlated with length of stay from the bivariate tests were analyzed using multiple linear regression to identify the best predictive model for retention. Results. Predictors of length of stay were the woman's age, current use of prescribed pain medication, sexual concerns, employment problems, and importance of drug treatment. Substance use characteristics did not predict retention. Specifically, women remained in treatment longer if they were older, were not taking any prescription pain medication, reported concerns about employment, reported concerns about sexual problems, and reported lower importance of drug treatment, yet higher personal commitment to recovery. Higher scores for childhood trauma, emotional neglect, and physical neglect were correlated with retention, but were not statistically significant. Conclusions. Successful treatment programs must address women's medical, employment, sexual and interpersonal relationships, and emotional trauma needs in this vulnerable population.
Keywords: Substance Abuse Treatment; Treatment Retention; Women Offenders; Victimization; Gender.
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