International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Substance-Specific Stigma and the Gatekeeping Role of Social Distance in Recovery Support Provision
Von Iván Flores Martínez.
Inhalt auf Englisch
Abstract
Background
Community integration for individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) depends on the willingness of social network members to provide aid, yet the mechanisms driving this support remain poorly understood. This study evaluates how substance type and relational proximity influence willingness to help, isolating the relative impact of social distance, recovery optimism, and individual normative assets.
Methods
In an 8 × 2 randomized factorial vignette experiment (N = 239), participants read a scenario describing a cousin or childhood friend going through a “rough patch.” Conditions manipulated substance type (seven specific SUD histories vs. a no-substance control) and relational proximity (extended kin vs. non-kin friend). Four OLS regression models (overall, instrumental, informational, and emotional support) were estimated with robust standard errors and Benjamini–Hochberg false discovery rate (FDR) adjustments.