Factors Affecting Attempts to Overcome Caffeine Addiction - Research Paper Example

? Factors that Affect the Likelihood of Further Attempts to Overcome Caffeine Addiction after Previously Encountered Failure Introduction Most peoplehave health behaviors that they would like to modify or change, either because they are harmful or because they stop the individual from living a normal life. Research shows that those who succeed are individuals who believe in their abilities to effect a change; while those who did not succeed found both internal and external factors variable but controllable (Schoeneman & Curry, 1990). In order for the individual to believe that a second attempt is viable, they must be able to believe that they are capable of making the requisite effort (Bailey, 2005). This study tested whether a similar attribution style may be exhibited by individuals attempting to recover from caffeine addiction. It also examined how the attributions made by individuals during a previously failed attempt affect their motivations towards a second time. Literature review Addiction is a state of being in which an individual experiences a biological and psychological need of a particular thing or experience that is strong and difficult to resist; and experiences deficiencies in emotional, cognitive and social functioning if unable to obtain the object of addiction (DiClemente, 2006). Bailey (2005) has explored the different perspectives and discourses related to addiction (including valuable popular discourses), and discusses the role of the self in the process of addiction as well as recovery. The paper also discussed and the complexity of the relationship shared by bio-psycho-social factors with addiction (Bailey, 2005). The secondary benefits of addiction often play a role in their maintenance as well (DiClemente, 2006), and people often find it difficult to accept that there is a problem due to the positive feedback from these benefits. Bailey (2005) has suggested that the relationship between free will and addiction is quite complex; and these factors provide light on why this is so. Types of addiction Addiction is commonly viewed as being associated with narcotic substances and alcohol. But recent work has found that there are many things and experiences that can prove to be addictive although their ill-effects are not as prominent or visible to either the individual or to others (DiClemente, 2006). Topics under research with greater frequency have included addictions associated with the internet, with sexual material, with medication, sweets, caffeine and other foods as well as otherwise healthy habits like exercise and diet (DiClemente, 2006). An addiction is in essence an unhealthy reliance of some external factor to feel good and the experience of negative affect and possible debilitation in its absence. On the basis of this definition, a number of previously ignored experiences are being explored for addictive experiences. De-addiction The process of recovering from an addiction and returning to normal usage of (or abstinence from) the object of addiction is called de-addiction. Smith and Ferguson (2005) have identified a set of steps involved in de-addiction that start with confronting the problem and proceed up till developing mechanisms that help in maintaining de-addiction post treatment. Each stage plays an important role in the understanding of de-addiction as part of a developmental process and the particular challenges associated with it. This process is rarely easy as the individual often develops a physiological as well as a psychological dependence on the substance (DiClemente, 2006); and Ogden (1995) discusses the emotional and cognitive changes in individuals following a self-developed diet. These are similar to persons recovering from a variety of addictions; and include higher scores on depression, dissatisfaction with self and feelings of lack of control. Given the negative shape of these experiences, it is reasonable that a number of people experience failure in attempts to achieve de-addiction (DiClemente, 2006). Research shows that individuals who succeed at experiencing change believe in their abilities to effect a change, and believe that internal factors are stable and controllable; while those who fail internal, variable factors that are nevertheless controllable (Schoeneman & Curry, 1990). This attribution may allow for insulation against the ill-effects of failure while allowing for the possibility of another attempt in the future. Research has also shown that when individuals believe that they are blameless or innocent in an interpersonal situation, they are more likely to justify the violence they exhibit towards others (Ofreneo & Montiel, 2010). Similarly, when people believe that their failure is affected by strong external factors, they are less likely to exhibit guilt or negative self image associated with the failure (Lesch, Walter, Wetschka, Hesselbrock & Hesselbrock, 2011). Thus, the individual’s perception of the salient factors plays a valuable role in whether they will feel motivated to make further attempts to recover from addiction after having experienced failure. Role of motivation Motivation refers to an internal drive to achieve some goal. A number of motivational theories have been used to explain motivation in health related behaviors including de-addiction. The Self Determination theory and the Cognitive-motivational-relational theory have received particular attention in this respect (Ntoumanis, Edmunds & Duda, 2009). Sasse (2005) finds that motivations for change are less based in particular circumstances; and are able to affect a large spectrum of events from the same root. Vansteenkiste, Soenens and Vandereycken (2005) have found that internalization of the change required plays a stronger role as compared to intrinsic motivation. The paper also emphasizes the importance associated with the need to change and the role that internal motivation; and suggests that multiple motivators are more effective when compared to a single valuable motivator since multiple motivators increase the number of reasons an individual finds for change to occur. Ingledew, Markland and Ferguson (2009) have found that there exists a hierarchy of motivational factors, with dispositional motives which are generic life goals affecting participatory motives that are reflected in choices; while these in turn affect regulatory motives that exert a direct control on behavior. Factors affecting success in de-addiction De-addiction may be a tiresome process, but it is not impossible with the adequate mental effort to aid the physical exertions including physical treatment and detoxification, motivational training, and psychotherapy (DiClemente, 2006). Schoeneman and Curry (1990) have described the manner in which the causal dimensions presented by Weiner (1979) when applied to pervious attempts at successful and unsuccessful change are used by individuals to explain their outcomes. They also discuss the importance of helping individuals develop the perspectives that are most conducive of success. Shinitzky and Kub (2001) discuss techniques that can be used by health professionals to address and help achieve a health related behavioral change. The paper also discusses ways to identify the stage of recovery, and maintain positive behaviors in patients. Research questions An important piece of information in helping people achieve de-addiction is to understand the ways in which people deal with failure and the motivations that drive them to try again. Based on the understanding of addiction and de-addiction research, this study attempted to evaluate the factors that affected the motivation to change one health behavior in particular – consuming caffeine. It wanted to verify if individual’s who wanted to overcome caffeine addiction but had previously failed attempts would view these causes as internal, controllable and variable as discussed by Schoeneman & Curry (1990). The study also wished to evaluate the relationship that was shared by the locus of causality of reasons of pervious failure with the participants’ belief that they could succeed in future attempts to overcome caffeine addiction as well as their motivation to start a fresh attempt within the upcoming three months. To verify these questions, the following hypotheses were developed and tested: For individuals who have previously failed to overcome caffeine addiction, scores on locus of control for reasons of previous failure will be directly related to choice to try again within the next three months. For Individuals who have previously failed to overcome caffeine addiction, scores on locus of control for reasons of previous failure will be directly related to motivation to try again. Further hypotheses were developed to verify if the trends seen in the present sample were similar to those observed by Schoeneman & Curry (1990). Thus, four statements were developed to verify this: Individuals who have previously failed to overcome caffeine addiction will rate the reasons for failure as being mostly due to factors associated with personal control. These Individuals will rate the reasons for failure as having less to do with external control. These Individuals will rate the reasons for failure as being highly self caused. These Individuals will rate the reasons for failure as highly variable. Variables The study attempted to study the causes that people attributed to failed attempts to overcome caffeine addiction. These attributions may be classified under one of four heads – external control, personal control, locus of causality and stability of event – as defined by McAuley, Duncan and Russell (1992). Other variables under study may be defined operationally as: Caffeine addiction: the compulsive desire to consume foods and beverage containing caffeine and experiencing a reduced ability to function adequately (socially, emotionally and cognitively) without consuming caffeine. Likelihood of attempting to overcome caffeine addiction: the possibility of the individual actively contemplating and commencing a systematic attempt to overcome caffeine addiction within the coming three months. Motivation to attempt to overcome caffeine addiction: the extent to which the individual felt motivated to commence a systematic attempt to overcome caffeine addiction within the coming three months. Methodology Sample and Participants In order to obtain a heterogeneous sample, the researcher chose to recruit participants through a social networking website. The criteria set down were that the participants should be between 21 to 60 years of age and should be residents of the United States of America. Interested individuals were asked to revert back to the researcher with their email addresses; and these participants were sent the questionnaire by email. A convenience sampling method was used for the study. A total of 289 prospective participants responded within the week for which the request was posted; out of which 276 participants completed the questionnaire. Some participants were excluded due to missing data; and the final analysis was conducted on 256 participants. Of these 178 participants were female, while 78 were male. The youngest participant identified themselves as 23 years old, while the oldest was 51 years old. 149 participants were professionals, 40 were unemployed, while the rest were students. Participants were not asked for other identifying details like race, sexual orientation, place of residence or particulars of where they worked or studied in order to maintain confidentiality. Materials The study used one standardized instrument - the Causal Dimension Scale by McAuley, Duncan, and Russell (1992) (Appendix) which was based on the dimensions of causation that were identified by Weiner (1979). The scale was first published by Russell (1982) and was later revised to define the dimension of causality in a better manner. It has been found to be sufficiently reliable and valid by McAuley, Duncan, and Russell (1992). The study also used a personal information sheet (Appendix) which collected the individual’s gender, age, number of previous attempts to overcome caffeine addiction, and professional status. This was followed by the CDS after which the participant was asked to fill in two 9 point scales – one for motivation to try to overcome caffeine addiction again, and one for likelihood of trying to overcome caffeine addiction in the coming three months (Appendix). These variables were measured on nine point scales to maintain similarity with the scales in the CDS and for the participant’s convenience as well as for the diversity of responses that were possible with a scale with nine points as compared to traditional five point scales. Procedure The researcher chooses to recruit participants through a social networking website. The details of the study were posted to the participants of caffeine addiction support groups and discussion boards and interested individuals were asked to contact the researcher if they fulfilled the posted criteria. These individuals were sent the instruments by email with the instructions also found at the beginning of the questionnaire. Respondents’ responses were checked for multiple responses and missing data and such data was excluded from the final analysis. Results Analysis of the 256 included participants’ demographic details found that he mean age of participants in the group was 41 years with a Standard Deviation of 7.39, while the mean age for female participants was 38 years (S.D = 7.4) and for male participants was 43 years (S.D = 7.2). T means and standard deviations of the participants on the four scales of the CDS are tabulated in table 1. Table 1: Means and S.D’s of CDS variables Scale Mean Standard Deviation External control 16.38 4.6 Personal control 21.56 3.9 Locus of causation 22.46 3.7 Stability 11.9 4.36 The mean score of the motivation to attempt to overcome caffeine addiction was 6.9, with a Standard Deviation of 2.8 and the mean score for likelihood of attempting to overcome caffeine addiction in the coming three months was 6.3 with a Standard deviation of 2.45. To test the hypotheses about relationships, Pearson Product Moment Correlation coefficient was calculated for the scores of participants on the dimension of locus of causation and the motivation to attempt to overcome caffeine addiction. The correlation value found was 0.693, which was found to be significant at the 0.001 level of significance [r (254) = 0.693; p < 0.001]. A Pearson Product moment Correlation coefficient was also calculated between scores on the dimension of locus of causation and the likelihood of attempting to overcome caffeine addiction over the coming three months. The correlation value obtained was lower in this case at 0.5613; but was still found to be significant at the 0.01 level of significance [r (254) = 0.5613; p Read More