Association between gender and marital status and confidence in remaining abstinent among alcohol abusers in treatment.

Aims: To assess the importance of gender and marital status on self-efficacy expectancies of alcohol abusers in treatment.

Design, Participants And Setting: Cross-sectional study with a group of alcohol abusers in treatment (n = 259, 56 women) at the Bergen Clinics Foundation, Norway.

Measurements: The Situational Confidence Questionnaire was applied for the self-efficacy assessment.

Findings: Self-reports of significant life problems were associated with low self-efficacy expectancies. Controlling for this, female abusers scored significantly higher than their male counterparts on risk of relapse in "positive emotional state" and "pleasant emotional states with others".

Conclusions: Situations perceived as being at high risk for relapse were associated with gender and significant life problems. The findings have implications for a more differentiated approach in the relapse prevention treatment programmes.