Measuring Success in Collegiate Recovery: A Systematic Review
Faculty Mentor(s) Name(s)
John Moore
Abstract
Background: Substance misuse is prevalent on college campuses, and students face increased risk of developing a substance use disorder (SUD). Students with a SUD who seek to restrict or abstain from substance use in a traditional collegiate environment face unique socioecological hardship. To provide structure and support for these students, many campuses have adopted Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRPs): a university-supported network that provides peer support and other resources for students in recovery. The proliferation of these programs creates a need to evaluate how CRPs measure success. Purpose: To systematically review the variables used by researchers to determine what criteria define success in a collegiate recovery program. Methods: The PRISMA four-phase article extraction process was conducted separately by two reviewers who ensured articles met the inclusion criteria. The JBI quality appraisal tool was used to assess the quality of each study. Results: 11 articles met the inclusion criteria. Due to the variety of methodology used to evaluate CRPs, measures of success vary. Two literature reviews note this variety of approaches does not enable researchers to assume CRP participation has causal influence on outcomes measured. Despite inconsistencies in study type, measures of success that emerge from the literature include Quality of Life; risk of relapse; perceived value of CRP membership; members’ GPAs, graduation, and retention rates; and measures linked to recovery success—which is also identified as recovery capital. Conclusion: Evidence from this systematic review indicates consistency in study type as a limitation to further CRP development. While some units of measurement are recurring in the body of literature — such as recovery capital, GPA, and relapse— a standardized approach is needed to unify the assessment of CRP success.
Start Date
27-3-2024 9:00 AM
End Date
27-3-2024 9:50 AM
Location
Magnolia Ballroom
Measuring Success in Collegiate Recovery: A Systematic Review
Magnolia Ballroom
Background: Substance misuse is prevalent on college campuses, and students face increased risk of developing a substance use disorder (SUD). Students with a SUD who seek to restrict or abstain from substance use in a traditional collegiate environment face unique socioecological hardship. To provide structure and support for these students, many campuses have adopted Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRPs): a university-supported network that provides peer support and other resources for students in recovery. The proliferation of these programs creates a need to evaluate how CRPs measure success. Purpose: To systematically review the variables used by researchers to determine what criteria define success in a collegiate recovery program. Methods: The PRISMA four-phase article extraction process was conducted separately by two reviewers who ensured articles met the inclusion criteria. The JBI quality appraisal tool was used to assess the quality of each study. Results: 11 articles met the inclusion criteria. Due to the variety of methodology used to evaluate CRPs, measures of success vary. Two literature reviews note this variety of approaches does not enable researchers to assume CRP participation has causal influence on outcomes measured. Despite inconsistencies in study type, measures of success that emerge from the literature include Quality of Life; risk of relapse; perceived value of CRP membership; members’ GPAs, graduation, and retention rates; and measures linked to recovery success—which is also identified as recovery capital. Conclusion: Evidence from this systematic review indicates consistency in study type as a limitation to further CRP development. While some units of measurement are recurring in the body of literature — such as recovery capital, GPA, and relapse— a standardized approach is needed to unify the assessment of CRP success.