S o y elling in addic ion p e en ion: a basis o de eloping e ec i e p og ams
om a sys ema ic e iew
He e a-Sánchez, Isabel Ma ía, Medina-Anzano, Sil ia, and Rueda-Méndez, Samuel
Abs ac
In oduc ion: D ug misuse is a complex social and heal h p oblem. People who use d ugs
ha e e y speci ic p o iles acco ding o hei li e cycle and sociocul u al ci cums ances.
Fo his eason, con ex ualized app oaches a e needed in he in e en ion o addic ions
ha ake on boa d he pa icula i ies o consump ion pa e ns and hei ci cums ances.
The s o y elling echnique as a na a i e communica ion s a egy can se e as a main
me hodological in e en ion componen ha enhances his con ex ualized app oach. This
echnique ecognizes how he s o ies we ell om ou expe iences help us o o ganize and
make sense o ou li es. Me hods: A sys ema ic e iew o he li e a u e wi h na a i e
analysis is pe o med o iden i y he adop ed app oaches in esea ch s udies ha
speci ically use he s o y elling echnique and o lay he basis o a s o y elling-based
p e en i e s a egy. Resul s: In he scien i ic li e a u e, communi y and pe sonal
na a i es ha e been app oached as ans o ma i e and change p ocesses in mu ual help
g oups, mainly wi h alcohol p oblems, using na a i e esea ch me hodology. O he
opics o in e es ha e included: he e alua ion o in e en ions and he apeu ic p ocesses
o d ug use a ge ing high- isk popula ions using di e en me hodologies (pilo esea ch,
quasi-expe imen al designs, pa icipa o y communi y esea ch); and he analysis o he
p ocesses behind iden i y cons uc ion and econs uc ion coupled wi h he explo a ion o
sha ed isions, alues and consump ion knowledge in high- isk popula ions using he
e hnog aphic echnique o g ounded heo y. Conclusion: Na a i es based on communi y
and pe sonal s o ies, when a e sha ed, inco po a e he con ex ual and cul u al issues
associa ed wi h d ug addic ion. I is acco dingly p oposed o examine whe he
s o y elling-based in e en ion gene a es a g ea e iden i ica ion and a willingness o
change, especially in mo e ulne able g oups wi h ema kable li e ajec o ies.
Keywo ds: s o y elling, d ug misuse, sys ema ic e iew
The au ho s decla e ha hey ha e no con lic o in e es .
Wo kplace add ess
Depa amen o de Psicología Social. Facul ad de Psicología. Uni e sidad de Se illa
C/ Camilo José Cela, s/n, 41018, Se illa (España)
Tel. (34) 954557201. Fax. (34) 954557111
ihe e [email protected]
This is an Accep ed manusc ip o :
He e a-Sánchez, I., Rueda-Méndez, S. & Medina-Anzano, S. (2019). S o y elling in addic ion p e en ion: A
basis o de eloping e ec i e p og ams om a sys ema ic e iew. Human A ai s, 29(1), 32-47. h ps://
doi.o g/10.1515/huma -2019-0004
INTRODUCTION
The la es Eu opean epo on d ugs opens wi h a meaning ul poin o depa u e: he
dynamic cha ac e o d ug p oblems ep esen s a majo challenge ha needs o be
add essed (Eu opean Moni o ing Cen e o D ugs and D ug Addic ion, 2018). People
who ake d ugs de elop di e en consump ion pa e ns associa ed wi h mul iple isk
ac o s and a ying ci cums ances. By adop ing he communi y psychology app oach,
ecological di e si y should be aken in o accoun when dealing wi h he p oblems o use
and misuse o subs ance, e e ing o “an app ecia ion o cul u e, con ex , and di e ences,
including he complex in e sec ionali ies o iden i y and subs ance misuse” (Olson,
B adley, Emsho , & Ri e a, 2017, p. 402).
Resea ch in o he p e en ion o d ug abuse has shown signi ican p og ess by
allowing he de elopmen o e idence-based p og ams. Howe e , he li e a u e has
documen ed how many o hese p og ams ha ha e wo ked well in one social con ex
ha e no gene a ed he same esul s when a emp ed o be ex ended o o he con ex s
(Biglan & Hinds 2009; Toble e al., 2000). These p oblems a e mos e idenced when
p og ams ha e been adap ed om he u al con ex o he u ban con ex (Kom o e al.,
2008), o ha e been a emp ed o ex apola e hei co e mechanisms o in e en ion o
mino i y and low-income g oups (Cho, Hal o s, & Sánchez, 2005; Spo h, Guyll, Chao,
& Molgaa d 2003). Once again, he indings o hese s udies poin o he impo ance o
he in e en ion con ex . Fo his eason, i is necessa y o concep ualize he p oblem by
app oaching i om i s his o ical, social and pe sonal pe spec i es in o de o unde s and
he issue and o e e ec i e esponses.
A na a i e communica ion s a egy like s o y elling a o s his con ex ualized and
idiog aphic app oach. This echnique acknowledges how elling s o ies abou ou li es is
a na u al human p ocess. These s o ies a e in insically linked o ou own iden i y
(McAdams, 2001); hey c ea e sha ed meanings o heal h and illness (Mu ay, 1999); and
hey os e a sense o belonging. F om an empowe men app oach (Rappapo , 1995),
na a i es based on s eng hs and capabili ies encou age ac i e and posi i e de elopmen .
Thus, he cha ac e is ics ha he na a i es p ojec can exe an in luence on p ocesses o
change.
This echnique has expe ienced g owing applica ion in ields such as educa ion,
communi y-based in e en ion, public heal h and social ma ke ing. In o mal educa ion,
he expe ience o s o y elling can, among o he unc ions, help o shape one's own
expe ience in an unde s andable way, pa icula ly in childhood, o o e a easible model
o language and hough (Collins, 1999). In communi y se ing, s o ies a e iewed as a
c i ical awa eness ool add essing issues ha a ec social well-being and social s abili y
(G ego i-Signes & Alcan ud-Díaz, 2016). Di e en p oblem a eas ha e been add essed
in he ield o public heal h. These include ini ia i es aimed a empowe ing young people
o p e en ing diabe es; gaining a be e unde s anding o as hma; and helping
pa icipan s a he ea ly s ages o demen ia o build hei con idence and communica ion
skills (Gub ium, Hill, & Flicke , 2014). In he a ea o heal h communica ion, na a i e-
based s a egies as opposed o scien i ic logic-based communica ion s a egies a e easie
o audiences o comp ehend, hey gene a e mo e in e es , and hey in i e mo e
oppo uni ies o iden i ica ion (Dahls om, 2014).
S o ies ha e always been p esen in s udies ha analyze he issue o d ugs and in
in e en ions ha p e en o ea addic ion. The aim o his sys ema ic e iew is o
iden i y he di e en adop ed app oaches in esea ch s udies ha speci ically use he
s o y elling echnique. These include empi ical s udies co e ing ac o s associa ed wi h
d ug use and eco e y as well as in e en ions ha ackle p e en i e addic ions. The end
goal is o conduc a na a i e syn hesis o de e mine he bases and s a egies ha unde lie
a s o y elling-based in e en ion o a undamen ally p e en i e na u e.
METHOD
A sys ema ic sea ch o a icles was pe o med ac oss six da abases using he
P oQues pla o m: Nu sing & Allied Heal h Da abase, PsycINFO, MEDLINE®, Heal h
& Medical Collec ion, PsycARTICLES, and Psychology Da abase. The e m
“s o y elling” was used in combina ion (AND) wi h each o he ollowing e ms: addic *,
d ug*, subs ance abuse, obacco, smoking, alcohol*, d inking, cocaine, he oine,
cannabi*, MDMA, and amphe amine*. A icles e alua ed by expe s ( om pee - e iew
jou nals) and published be o e 1 Janua y 2018 we e chosen as an “Addi ional Limi ”. All
pai ed sea ches we e hen un using a single sea ch command (OR) o gene a e a single
ou pu ile o all he esul s, hus allowing us o elimina e duplica es. We equi ed ha all
s udies we e w i en in English.
A e an ini ial e iew o he i les, abs ac s and main subjec s, we emo ed hose
a icles ha did no add ess he main opic o s udy. This ask was pe o med by jus one
esea che . Du ing he subsequen eligibili y phases, wo u he esea che s pa icipa ed
as a highe le el o consensus was equi ed o selec ion pu poses. The s udies included
in his e iew had o mee he ollowing c i e ia: a) isk ac o s udies; b) s udies ha
analyze he p ocesses su ounding addic ion and addic ion eco e y; and c) s udies on he
implemen a ion and e ec s o in e en ion. All had o clea ly iden i y he s o y elling
echnique and mee he me hodological quali y equi emen s o he esea ch. Theo e ical
e iews, commen a ies, epo s, desc ip ions o echniques and case s udies we e
excluded. These c i e ia we e included o easibili y easons, o co e he wides possible
numbe o s udies wi hou comp omising quali y. To de e mine he quali y o he s udy,
a plu alis app oach was adop ed o encompass he mul iple admissible angles and
pe spec i es, using quali y-d i en c i e ia speci ic o each app oach (Wong, G eenhalgh,
Wes ho p, & Pawson, 2014). Resea ch s udies ha lacked igo acco ding o hei speci ic
s anda ds we e ejec ed.
Gi en he a ie y o s udies subjec o e iew, a na a i e syn hesis was conduc ed
(Popay e al., 2006), which consis ed o “an app oach o he sys ema ic e iew and
syn hesis o indings om mul iple s udies ha elies p ima ily on he use o wo ds and
ex o summa ize and explain he indings o he syn hesis” (p.5). The analysis p ocess
co e ed he ollowing s ages: a) a p elimina y syn hesis; b) an explo a ion o
ela ionships; c) an e alua ion o syn hesis obus ness; and d) he de elopmen o an
eme ging heo y o sugges ion-based in e en ion.
RESULTS
The da abase sea ch esul ed in 3,719 eco ds once he duplica es we e il e ed ou .
Following a p elimina y e iew o each eco d, 184 we e p eselec ed; we we e le wi h
29 a e applying he inclusion and exclusion c i e ia. The low diag am is shown in
Figu e 1. The na a i e analysis o he selec ed a icles ocused on: de ec ing he
app oaches unde lying hese s udies; he s o y elling me hods; he me hodological aspec s
(me hod, con ex , popula ion, subs ance); and he esul s o e ec s eached. Fo each o
hese elemen s, hema ic ca ego ies we e iden i ied as shown in Table 1. In he case o
he esul s o e ec s, due o he di e si y o he s udies, he main conclusions we e
sys ema ized. These ca ego ies se ed as a ub ic o he na a i e syn hesis o he s udy.
Table 2 is he esul o he na a i e syn hesis which eme ged om he analysis. We now
mo e on o he main indings by commen ing on he app oaches unde lying he s udies
yielded and how he p ac ice o s o y elling akes shape. The esul s sec ion closes by
p esen ing he main p emises ha eme ged om he analysis.
(Inse Figu e 1)
(Inse Table 1)
(Inse Table 2)
Rega ding he app oaches unde lying he s udies yielded, a i s ca ego y made up o
esea ch ocused on cons uc ing meanings ha e ol e a ound consume p ac ices
( isions, alues, my hs, belie s, schema). In ligh o his, an analysis o discu si e
p ac ices has helped de ec he cul u ally sha ed meanings su ounding consume
p ac ices om a gene a ional pe spec i e (Tol anen & Jylhä, 2005; Tu enges & Rod,
2009; Bu ne , O Wal e , & Balle , 2016; Mompe , Dennis, & Muelle -Williams, 2017),
analyzing hei implica ions o consump ion i sel (Tu enges & Sandbe g, 2013). On
ano he le el, Mi e (2007) se ou o iden i y how implici my hology is p ojec ed in
li e a y wo ks wi hin use s’ pe sonal na a i es, whe eas Kean and Albada (2003) sough
o de e mine he e ec s by looking o a connec ion be ween media, pe sonal expe ience
and schema o ma ion. Conside ing socially isola ed and disad an aged g oups, Roche,
Neaigus, and Mille (2005) wan ed o iden i y a o m o adap a ion o he en i onmen in
he sha ed s o ies among d ug-using women who engage in sex wo k, whe eas Rance,
G ay, and Hopwood (2017) ocused on how people who injec d ugs, ic ims o s igma
and social hos ili y a e pu a a disad an age when i comes o making sense o hei social
expe ience.
A second ca ego y ga e us s udies ha explo e how elling pe sonal and communi y-
based s o ies a e an impo an pa o eco e y p ocesses in mu ual help g oups, mainly
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) g oups. Ra alo ich (1999) analyzed he iden i y
ans o ma ion p ocess h ough sha ing s o ies. Lede man and Menega os (2011) ocused
on he in ape sonal impac o AA na a i es by adop ing a e ospec i e app oach much
like Weegmann and Piwowoz-Hjo (2009). A minen (2004) examined he unc ions o
second s o ies in econs uc ing g oup iden i y and in ein e p e ing sha ed p oblems.
Ch is ensen and Elmeland (2015) ound di e ences in how na a i es o addic ion
eco e y play ou be ween people who a end sel -help g oups and hose who decide o
do i alone. S obbe and Ku z (2012) and Humph eys (2000) placed ans o ma i e
s o y elling a communi y na a i e le els, whe eas Swo a (2002) posi ioned hese s o ies
as social p ac ices ha build hei own social s uc u e. These p ocesses o change a e
also conside ed in Dunlop and T acy’s (2013) s udy, which analyzed posi i e sel -
ans o ma ion p ocesses ollowing a di icul expe ience, iden i ying he ela ionship
be ween sel - edemp ion and beha io change in he na a i es.

Based on a na a i e pe suasion app oach, Ma and Nan (2017) wan ed o see how
non-smoke s espond o heal h messages (na a i e s. non-na a i e) wi h he in en ion
o pe suade o he s o qui smoking, examining he mode a ing ole o social dis ance. In
in e en ion s udies, na a i es we e in oduced alongside e idence-based in e en ions
wi h an aim o con ex ualize he messages (Leuke eld e al., 2003; Hous on e al., 2011;
Che ing on e al., 2015). Moghadam, Sa i, Balouchi, Mada shahian, and Moghadam
(2016) add essed s o y elling-based educa ion as a co e componen in p e en ion.
Las ly, we no ably ind s udies ha inco po a e s o y elling wi h he suppo o
communi y-based pa icipa o y s a egies o de elop cul u ally adap ed in e en ions.
Nelson and A hu (2003) de eloped he p og am “S o y elling o Empowe men ” as a
way o encou aging posi i e cul u al iden i y. This p og am was la e adap ed wi hin he
amewo k o he mHeal h pla o m, inco po a ing he p inciples o communi y-based
pa icipa o y esea ch (Co do a e al., 2015, 2016). In a s udy conduc ed by And ews,
Ben ley, C aw o d, P e low, and Tingen (2007), membe s o he communi y we e enlis ed
o help de elop a cul u ally sensi i e in e en ion in ol ing A ican Ame ican women
who li e in subsidized housing. The p og am “Li e S o y In e en ion” by Haigh , Black,
and She idan (2010) was de ised in collabo a ion wi h communi y p o essionals,
in oducing sociocul u al heo y as a key p emise o e idence-based in e en ions and
local na a i e adi ions in o de o add ess he men al heal h symp oms o child en
whose pa en s ake amphe amines. Mon gome y, Manueli o, Nass, Chock, and Buchwald
(2012) exp essed he iew ha an in e en ion is mo e likely o succeed i i s me hods a e
consis en wi h he cul u al p ac ices o he na i e communi ies and i young people a e
seen as ac i e p oduce s o he educa ional con en .
Fu he analysis in his na a i e e iew is how he p ac ice o s o y elling akes shape
when ga he ing na a i e da a o as an in e en ion componen . The i s ca ego y o
s udies we e hose in which esea che s in i ed pa icipan s o ela e hei expe iences o
di e en pu poses: o analyze he e en s ha un old in he na a i es (Tu enges &
Sandbe g, 2013); o iden i y he mo al discou ses and sha ed cul u al expec a ions
be ween gene a ions (Tol anen & Jylhä, 2005); and o see how hey mimic li e a y plo s
(comedy, omance, agedy, i ony) be ween he e en s and he di e en ways o elling
s o ies (Mi e , 2007). In challenging con ex s, s o y elling has se ed o iden i y posi i e
sel -change expe iences ollowing a nega i e expe ience as sel - edemp ion na a i es
(Dunlop & T acy, 2013). In he apeu ic se ings, people a e in i ed o alk abou hei
li es o o simply alk (Haigh e al., 2010). Bu ne e al. (2016), Hous on e al. (2011),
and Che ing on e al. (2015) used digi al o ma as opposed o ace- o- ace s a egies.
S o ies old in social ci cles and which o en su ace in in o mal con e sa ions
(Tu enges & Rod, 2009), o hose cha ac e is ic o in e pe sonal communica ion in na i e
communi ies (Mompe e al., 2017), a e also a sou ce o analysis. This is also he case in
in e en ions. In And ews e al. (2007), in o mal and in e ac i e g oup sessions ha
p omo ed s o y elling we e used as a eaching me hod. Mon gome y e al. (2012)
in oduced na i e elde adi ions o pass on knowledge h ough s o ies in hei
educa ional in e en ions.
S o y elling as a speci ic p ac ice in mu ual help se ings becomes i s own en i y in
he scien i ic addic ions li e a u e. S o ies a e old o emphasize helping o he s and o
include pe sonal li e s o ies in communi y-based na a i es. Lede man and Menega os
(2011) analyzed he e lec i e accoun s o membe s o AA o s ay sobe , whe eas S obbe
and Ku z (2012) used pe sonal s o ies in he Big Book o AA as he sole sou ce. A minen
(2004) ocused on he “second s o ies” ha eme ged in esponse o an o iginal s o y and
which con ibu ed o mu ual help and social suppo . Humph eys (2000) ocused his
analysis on he con en , s uc u es and unc ion(s) o AA s o ies.
Fic ional s o ies a e also pa o s o ies ha a e old o di e en pu poses. Kean and
Albada (2003) asked pa icipan s o w i e a s o y o cap u e hei ep esen a ion o he
objec . Ma and Nan (2017) used simula ed s o ies o illus a e heal h consequences.
Co do a e al. (2015) in oduced cul u ally cong uen s o ies in o a mHeal h applica ion.
And in Moghadam e al. (2016), al eady o mula ed s o ies we e complemen ed by g oup
s o y elling.
By examining hese esea ch s udies and as a esul o he ou come analysis, he
ollowing p emises eme ged which poin o he sui abili y o s o y elling in p e en i e
in e en ions:
1. S o ies a e a ga eway o heal h in e en ion e o s and pa icula ly when wo king
wi h ma ginalized communi ies by inco po a ing isk educ ion and heal h p omo ion
messages in o al adi ions (Nelson & A hu , 2003; Roche e al., 2005; Haigh e al.,
2010). These may include opics deemed h ea ening o which emain hidden
(Tu enges & Rod, 2009) and which call o close sc u iny o and a en ion o he
communi y’s alues and cul u e (And ews e al., 2007).
2. Na a i es should be based on s eng hs and capabili ies o encou age ac i e and
posi i e de elopmen . Thus, p og ams need o adop a posi i e social unc ion
(Bu ne e al., 2016) and con empla e communi y in ol emen whe eby he
pa icipan s hemsel es can decide how o sha e hei pe sonal s o ies o d ug and
alcohol use. Al hough hese expe iences a e di e en and unique o he indi idual,
hey ollow a clea ly iden i iable cause and e ec ajec o y (Tu enges & Sandbe g,
2013), which play a con ibu ing ole in sel - e lec ion on pe sonal and social iden i y
(Ra alo ich, 1999; A minen, 2004; Tu enges & Rod, 2009; Mompe e al., 2017).
These s o ies enable a c i ical assessmen o nega i e consequences (Tu enges & Rod,
2009) and ha e he po en ial o delinea e he bounda ies and es ablish le els o
accep abili y ega ding isk beha io s (Roche e al., 2005). Howe e , hey also p ojec
mo al discou ses ha hold o e ime o each gene a ion (Tol anen & Jylhä, 2005)
whe e he eal and he imagina y mee (Hump eys, 2000; Kean & Albada, 2003;
Roche e al., 2005). The s o ies emain ied o he con ex in which hey occu (Bu ne
e al., 2016; Che ing on e al., 2015; Mompe e al., 2017), meaning ha i is
pa icula ly ele an o ake on boa d he po en ial injus ices and challenges ha his
p ocess en ails in ma ginalized g oups (Rance e al., 2017).
3. Na a i es ac as mo i a o s ha go beyond he in ape sonal impac ha he
s o y elling p ocess i sel gene a es (Lede man & Menega os, 2011). These s o ies
boas a conside able po en ial o change among hose who lis en o and sha e hese
expe iences (Nelson & A hu , 2003; A minen, 2004; Weegmann & Piwowoz-Hjo ,
2009; S obbe & Ku z, 2012; Moghadam e al., 2016), and which p o e mo e
e ec i e when coupled wi h o he echniques (Hous on e al., 2011; Che ing on e
al., 2015; Co do a e al., 2015). These old s o ies ein o ce addic ion eco e y
h ough a p ocess o sha ing posi i e accoun s o people’s pe sonal li es in mu ual
help con ex s. They u n in o pe suasi e s o ies a an in ape sonal le el (Lede man
& Menega os, 2001; Dunlop & T acy, 2013), an in e pe sonal le el (A minen, 2004;
Weegmann & Piwowoz-Hjo , 2009), and a he le el o he communi y’s own social
s uc u e (Swo a, 2002). In en ionally ansmi ed s o ies, which e lec a desi ed
communi y na a i e, a e in ended o be seen as p o o ypes (S obbe & Ku z, 2012).
CONCLUSION
These esul s lead us o e lec on cu en p ac ices in addic ion p e en ion and heal h
p omo ion, which end o o e segmen ed in o ma ion ela i e o he concep ual
cons uc s ha de i e om heo e ical models. This cons i u es a gene alized p ac ice o
selec ing heal h messages acco ding o he emphasis ha heo e ical models place on wha
should be changed and how, wi hou aking in o accoun he su ounding ci cums ances
in an a emp o se e gene aliza ion. The li e a u e p o ides examples o p og ams ha
ail when de eloped in con ex s di e en o whe e he in e en ion o igina ed. Fo his
eason, s a egies o change should be sensi i e o he cul u e; hey should conside he
obs acles o pa icipa ion ha highly s igma ized g oups mus o e come; and hey should
ein o ce he discu si e p ac ices ha un old when expe iences a e sha ed. The s o ies a e
ull o meanings ha ap in o pe sonal expe iences and he cul u al, social and his o ical
alues o he g oup o belonging. As such, i would be easonable o assume ha i
iden i ica ion is s eng hened h ough hese s o ies, hen a willingness o change is mo e
likely.
The main limi a ion o he sys ema ic e ision comes om using he e m s o y elling
as he only sea ch desc ip o , excluding o he possible ela ed e ms such as na a i e
communica ion. This p ocedu e may ha e excluded o he s udies o ele ance. The
di e si y o he selec ed s udies is ano he limi a ion, ha is, hey a e no exclusi ely
implemen a ion o e ec i eness s udies. Fo his eason, a na a i e syn hesis has been
used ha could ex ac he mos ele an aspec s acco ding o he objec i e o he e iew.
Despi e his, his e iew allows o he delinea ion o a u u e line o esea ch aimed
a de e mining he e ec i eness o he s o y elling-based s a egy as a mo i a ing
mechanism o change by elici ing he iden i ica ion wi h his o y. This is especially
ele an wi h speci ic g oups (low esou ces, a isk g oups, e hnic g oups...) because hey
enhance hei own pe sonal s o ies o imp o emen . As a di ec p ac ical implica ion, he
designe s o p e en i e p og ams wi h mul iple componen s a e encou aged o
inco po a e his s a egy as a me hod o de eloping a cul u ally adap ed in e en ion.
REFERENCES
And ews, J. O., Ben ley, G., C aw o d, S., P e low, L., & Tingen, M. S. (2007). Using
communi y-based pa icipa o y esea ch o de elop a cul u ally sensi i e smoking
cessa ion in e en ion wi h public housing neighbo hoods. E hnici y & Disease,
17(2), 331–337.
A minen, I. (2004). Second s o ies: The salience o in e pe sonal communica ion o
mu ual help in Alcoholics Anonymous. Jou nal o P agma ics, 36(2), 319-347.
Biglan, A. & Hinds, E. (2009). E ol ing p osocial and sus ainable neighbo hoods and
communi ies. Annual Re iew o Clinical Psychology, 5, 169-196.
Table 2. Na a i e syn hesis o selec ed s udies be o e 1 Janua y 2018
App oaches
unde lying he
s udies
S o y elling
Me hodology
Con ex / Pa icipan s / Subs ance
Resul s / E ec s
Cons uc ion o
meanings
su ounding
consume p ac ices
Fic ional s o ies
Kean & Albada
(2003)
Expe imen al
design
Kean & Albada
(2003)
College campus / College s uden s / Alcohol
Kean & Albada (2003). USA
The s o ies connec he eal wo ld wi h scenes
ma ked by ele ision (Kean & Albada, 2003).
Sha ed
expe iences
Roche e al.
(2005)
Tol anen & Jylhä
(2005)
Mi e (2007)
Tu enges &
Sandbe g (2013)
Rance e al. (2017)
In digi al
s o y elling
Bu ne e al.
(2016)
Na a i e s udy
Tol anen & Jylhä
(2005)
Mi e (2007)
Rance e al. (2017)
G ounded Theo y
Roche e al. (2005)
Bu ne e al.
(2016)
Mixed me hods
Tu enges &
Sandbe g (2013)
College campus / College s uden s / Alcohol
Mi e (2007). Hunga y
Bu ne e al. (2016). USA
Homes, se ice housing o nu sing homes /
Elde ly people / Alcohol
Tol anen & Jylhä (2005). Finland
Ma ginalized g oups / D ug use
Roche e al. (2005). USA
Rance e al. (2017). Aus alia
Tou is des ina ion / Young ou is s / Alcohol
Tu enges & Sandbe g (2013). Bulga ia
The s o ies delinea e he bounda ies and
es ablish accep abili y o isk beha io s (Roche
e al., 2005).
The s o ies injec unal e able mo al discou se
o e ime (Tol anen & Jylhä, 2005).
C edible s o ies can be cons uc ed by elying on
li e a y plo s (Mi e , 2007).
The s o ies ac as a sc ip in beha io (Tu enges
& Sandbe g, 2013).
Inequali y discou se as ano he o m o social
injus ice (Rance e al., 2017).
The s o ies c ea e meaning a ound he excessi e
alcohol consump ion beha io o ame i in an
accep able way (Bu ne e al, 2016).
S o ies sha ed in
social ci cles
Tu enges & Rod
(2009)
Mompe e al.
(2017)
Thema ic analysis
wi h ocus g oups
Mompe e al.
(2017)
E hnog aphic
me hod
Tu enges & Rod
(2009)
Indian ese a ion / Ame ican Indians /
Alcohol
Mompe e al. (2017). USA
U ban and u al a eas / Teenage s / Alcohol
Tu enges & Rod (2009). Denma k
In e gene a ional ans e o lea nings and
pe sonal expe iences (Mompe e al., 2017).
Iden i y, c i ical awa eness (Tu enges & Rod,
2009).

Table 2 (con inued)
App oaches
unde lying he
s udies
S o y elling
Me hodology
Con ex / Pa icipan s / Subs ance
Resul s / E ec s
Na a i es and
p ocesses o change
in addic ion
eco e y
S o ies o suppo
Humph eys (2000)
Swo a (2002)
A minen (2004)
Weegmann &
Piwowoz-Hjo
(2009)
Lede man &
Menega os (2011)
S obbe & Ku z
(2012)
Na a i e s udy
Humph eys (2000)
Swo a (2002)
Weegmann &
Piwowoz-Hjo
(2009)
A minen (2004)
S obbe & Ku z
(2012)
G ounded Theo y
Lede man &
Menega os (2011)
AA membe s
/ Alcohol
Humph eys (2000). USA
Swo a (2002). USA
Lede man & Menega os (2011). USA
AA mee ings
/ Alcohol
A minen (2004).
Finland
Addic ion T ea men Cen e / Alcohol
Weegmann & Piwowoz-Hjo (2009). UK
Big Book 4 h edi ion/Alcohol
S obbe & Ku z (2012)
Comp ising pe sonal s o ies om o me
membe s ha also gi e shape o he pe sonal
accoun s o new membe s (Humph eys, 2000).
A pe o mance gen e ha c ea es a sense o
communi y (Swo a, 2002).
They a e he basis o mu ual help and social
suppo ia co-cons uc ing expe iences
(A minen, 2004).
S o ies ebuild sel -iden i y (Weegmann &
Piwowoz-Hjo , 2009).
Na a i e cohe ence and ideli y in AA s o ies
(Lede man & Menega os, 2011).
Communi y na a i es ac as p o o ypes in sel -
help con ex s (S obbe & Ku z, 2012).
Sha ed expe iences
Ra alo ich (1999)
Dunlop & T acy
(2013)
Ch is ensen &
Elmeland (2015)
G ounded heo y
Ra alo ich (1999)
Mixed me hods (wi h
na a i e)
Dunlop & T acy
(2013)
Ch is ensen &
Elmeland (2015)
Na co ics Anonymous mee ings
Ra alo ich (1999). USA
AA mee ings
/ Alcohol
Dunlop & T acy (2013). Canada
AA membe s
/ Alcohol
Ch is ensen & Elmeland (2015). Denma k
The addic ’s iden i y in sel -help con ex s is
a icula ed h ough momen s o equali y,
unde s anding and pe sonal in es men
(Ra alo ich, 1999).
Na a i es explo ing nega i e expe iences
in e p e ed as conduci e o a posi i e change in
sel -explain long- e m beha io change
(Dunlop & T acy, 2013).
Iden i ica ion is impo an in AA membe s o
s aying sobe , whe eas hose who seek unaided
eco e y a e conce ned abou showing abusi e
use bu no p oblema ic use (Ch is ensen &
Elmeland, 2015).
Table 2 (con inued)
App oaches
unde lying he
s udies
S o y elling
Me hodology
Con ex / Pa icipan s / Subs ance
Resul s / E ec s
Na a i e
pe suasion
Fic ional s o ies
Ma & Nan (2017)
Expe imen al design
Ma & Nan (2017)
College campus / College s uden s /
Tobacco
Ma & Nan (2017).
USA
Wi hou con i ming ha he na a i es ( s. non-
na a ed) would be mo e pe suasi e han non-
na a i es when people hough abou socially
close smoke s (Ma & Nan, 2017).
Na a i es and
p ocesses o change
in eg a ed wi h
o he e idence-
based p og ams
S o ies o
expe ience
Leuke eld e al.
(2003)
Accoun s o
expe iences in
digi al s o y elling
Hous on e al.
(2011)
Che ing on e al.
(2015)
Expe imen al design
Leuke eld e al.
(2003)
Pilo p ojec and
e alua ion
Hous on e al. (2011)
Randomized
con olled ial
Che ing on e al.
(2015)
Ru al coun ies/ A - isk g oups/ D ug use
Leuke eld e al. (2003). USA
Hospi al / A ican Ame ican / Tobacco
Hous on e al. (2011). USA
Che ing on e al. (2015). USA
Gaining access o a g oup o u al people a a
high isk o con ac ing HIV/AIDS (Leuke eld
e al., 2003).
Success ela i e o ga he ing na a i es o be
mapped o beha io al cons uc ions (Hous on,
2011).
Insu icien as an independen in e en ion
(Che ing on e al., 2015).
Na a i es and
p ocesses o change
as co e in e en ion
componen
T ue s o y
cons uc ion
Moghadam e al.
(2016)
Quasi-expe imen al
Moghadam e al.
(2016)
High school / S uden s / D ug use
Moghadam e al. (2016). I an
Signi ican all in willingness owa d addic ion
among adolescen s who pa icipa ed in he
in e en ion (Moghadam e al., 2016).
Table 2 (con inued)
App oaches
unde lying he
s udies
S o y elling
Me hodology
Con ex / Pa icipan s / Subs ance
Resul s / E ec s
Cul u ally adap ed
p e en ion
Fic ional s o ies
Nelson & A hu
(2003)
Co do a e al.
(2015)
Co do a e al.
(2016)
Quasi-expe imen al
Nelson & A hu
(2003)
Communi y-based
pa icipa o y
esea ch
Co do a e al.
(2015)
Co do a e al.
(2016)
Schools / You h wi h isk ac o s / D ug use
Nelson & A hu (2003). USA
You h-cen e ed communi y heal h ca e/
Adolescen s and young people / D ug use
Co do a e al. (2015). USA
Co do a e al. (2016). USA
Reduc ion in he consump ion o alcohol and
ma ijuana and a co ela ion wi h he numbe o
p og am con ac hou s (Nelson & A hu ,
2003).
Highligh he ba ie s and acili a o s (Co do a
e al., 2015).
P og am usabili y and accep abili y (Co do a e
al., 2016).
D ug in e en ions
cul u ally adap ed
S o ies o suppo
And ews e al.
(2007)
S o ies o
expe ience
Haigh e al.
(2010)
Fic ional s o ies
Mon gome y e al.
(2012)
Communi y-based
pa icipa o y
esea ch
And ews e al.
(2007)
Mixed me hods
Haigh e al. (2010)
Pilo p ojec and
e alua ion
Mon gome y e al.
(2012)
Public housing neighbo hoods/ A ican
Ame ican women / Tobacco
And ews e al. (2007). USA
Fos e ca e / Child en om
me hamphe amine-in ol ed amilies.
Haigh e al. (2010). USA
Na i e communi ies / Ame ican Indian and
Alaskan Na i e you h / Tobacco
Mon gome y e al. (2012). USA
Su ace s uc u e changes enhanced in e es ,
accep ance and iabili y, whe eas he deep
s uc u e acili a ed con ex adap a ion and
s eng hened he s udy’s impac and gene al
e icacy (And ews e al. 2007).
Sligh imp o emen in beha io p oblems
among child en pa icipa ing in he in e en ion
(Haigh e al., 2010).
In ol ing na i e you h in he in e en ion
(Mon gome y e al., 2012).