Relationship/association between affiliation to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), purpose in life, and positive religious coping on mental health in individuals who attend AA meetings in Romania

The study examines the relationship between AA affiliation, positive religious coping, and purpose in life with anxiety and depression. A convenience sample of individuals suffering from alcohol use disorders (AUD) from Romania who attend AA meetings (n = 155, men = 97 and women) completed an online questionnaire in 2021 to analyse the relationship between AA affiliation, positive religious coping, and purpose in life, and anxiety and depression. Multiple linear regressions analysis was employed. Results showed that purpose in life and AA affiliation are factors influencing anxiety, while purpose in life and positive religious coping are factors influencing depression, emphasising the importance of these variables in predicting anxiety and depression. Specialists working in the area of AUD should pay more attention to the relationship between AA and spirituality-related concepts regarding mental he alth as they seem to play an important role in the mental health of individuals with AUD.