Kaskutas et al. (2002) found that social network influences were mediators of 12-month abstinence. Specifically, a larger social network and greater network support for abstinence partially explained the relationship between greater AA involvement and better outcomes. In tests of individual predictors, reducing pro-drinking influences and increasing AA-related support for abstinence were most important (Kastukas et al., 2002). However, in a subsequent analysis, only AA-specific network support mediated alcohol abstinence three years after treatment (Bond et al., 2003).
