Advanced International Journal for Research

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Alcoholics Anonymous as a Protective Enclave: Reconsidering the Role of Internalized Stigma in Psycho-Spiritual Wellbeing Among Recovering Alcoholics Members in Mokokchung Town, Nagaland

Author(s) Temjensunep Longchar
Country India
Abstract Internalized stigma is widely recognized as a significant barrier to recovery from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Individuals who internalize negative societal perceptions regarding alcoholism frequently experience shame, social isolation, reduced self-esteem, and poorer psychological outcomes. Although extensive research has demonstrated the adverse effects of stigma on recovery, limited attention has been given to the role of recovery-support communities in mitigating these effects. This study examined the relationship between internalized stigma and psycho-spiritual wellbeing among Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) members in Mokokchung Town, Nagaland. A quantitative descriptive was employed using purposive sampling design involving 108 AA members. Data were collected using the Alcohol Recovery and Wellbeing Scale (ARWS) and the Psycho-Spiritual Wellbeing Scale (P-SWBS). Pearson correlation and independent samples t-test analyses were conducted to examine the association between internalized stigma and psycho-spiritual wellbeing. Findings revealed a weak negative relationship between internalized stigma and psycho-spiritual wellbeing (r = –.147, p > .05). Participants reporting lower levels of stigma demonstrated slightly higher psycho-spiritual wellbeing than those reporting higher stigma; however, the difference was not statistically significant, t(106) = 1.07, p = .286. Contrary to expectations and much of the existing literature, internalized stigma did not emerge as a significant predictor of psycho-spiritual wellbeing. The findings suggest that participation in AA may provide protective social and spiritual resources that buffer the detrimental effects of stigma through fellowship, shared recovery identity, social support, and spiritual growth. The study contributes to addiction recovery literature by highlighting the potential buffering role of AA within a culturally and spiritually distinctive context.
Keywords Alcoholics Anonymous, internalized stigma, psycho-spiritual wellbeing, recovery, spirituality, social support, recovery capital.
Field Sociology > Philosophy / Psychology / Religion
Published In Volume 7, Issue 3, May-June 2026
Published On 2026-06-26
DOI https://doi.org/10.63363/aijfr.2026.v07i03.6583
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