Existential Isolation and Well-Being Among Persons In Residential Treatment Facilities

Existential isolation (EI) is the feeling of being alone in one’s subjective experience of the world, along with an awareness that no one can completely understand another person’s worldview. Assessed as both a situational state or a dispositional trait, EI is related to diminished physical health and psychological well-being. Existentially isolated individuals, for example, report lower meaning in life, self-esteem, identity loss, less support for communal values and declines in personality traits such as conscientiousness and emotional stability. There is also a positive link between EI and anxiety, stress, depression, and suicidal ideation. People involved with the criminal justice system, including persons on probation, parole, or in jail or prison, represent an at-risk population for behavioral health concerns, and justice populations report elevated rates of mental health problems. However, research has yet to explore EI concerns in residential treatment clients.

In her initial study of this population, Cathy Cox, PhD, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at Texas Christian University, and her colleagues, using an MRI grant, are exploring whether persons scoring high on EI, as compared to their low scoring counterparts, report lower levels of treatment engagement, counselor rapport and satisfaction, and reduced emotional, psychological and social well-being.

300 male and female justice involved persons participating in a residential substance use treatment program enrolled in the study and will be given tests to assess existential isolation, post-traumatic stress, criminal backgrounds, counselor rapport and peer support, substance use histories and other attributes.

The research design will utilize both cross-sectional and longitudinal (i.e., 3- & 6-months post treatment) components. Cross-sectionally, the researchers will investigate whether people scoring high (vs. low) on EI report lower treatment engagement/satisfaction, peer support, counselor rapport, and well-being while in residential treatment. Their aim, longitudinally, is to see whether high (vs. low) EI persons are more prone to feel disconnected from counselors, and report less positive treatment outcomes. Likewise, they will determine if people with high (vs. low) EI are more likely to return to substance use or criminal behavior following treatment.

Although the primary purpose of this study is to collect quantitative data, Dr. Cox and her colleagues will also look for opportunities to record qualitative information (e.g., written and/or verbal conversations between clients, peers, & counselors). This will enable them to use language/text analysis software to code for EI and well-being themes.