VCU Social Work Doctoral Student Awarded for Research into Family Dynamics of Addiction Recovery
Richmond, VA – A Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work doctoral student is receiving recognition for groundbreaking research exploring how family communication impacts addiction recovery. Ji yang’s dissertation work, focused on the challenges and resilience within families navigating a loved one’s recovery journey, has been lauded as innovative and poised to inform both clinical practice and policy.
Yang’s research stems from her observations of the complex, ongoing nature of recovery. “Recovery isn’t a static stage but a dynamic, ongoing journey,” Yang explained. “Both individuals and families constantly face challenges, such as return to active substance use, shifts in motivation and other changing factors in their environment. To navigate these challenges, individuals and families often need to develop new norms and strategies that support continued progress.”
Her work investigates why some families successfully adapt to the changing needs of a loved one in recovery while others struggle,even when recognizing the necessity of change. Yang aims to identify the role of family communication in these differing outcomes, alongside the impacts of stigma, access to resources, and broader societal factors.
“The social work training I received also helped me see how external factors like stigma, available services and access to resources may also affect how families cope and thrive.And more importantly, how can we better recognize and respond to each family’s unique needs and use that understanding to inform more inclusive policies for this population?” she said.
Yang’s dissertation will specifically examine communication patterns within families impacted by addiction, their connection to familial resilience, the influence of stigma and isolation on communication, and how access to resources can bolster resilience. She hopes her findings will empower professionals working in the recovery field and advocate for expanded family-centered services.
VCU professors Mer Francis, karen Chartier, and mckenzie Green (all Ph.D., School of Social Work), along with Rosalie Corona, Ph.D.,from the department of Psychology,have provided crucial mentorship throughout Yang’s research.
“very little research has been done on family recovery at all, and even less on how communication patterns affect recovery,” said Dr. Francis,praising Yang’s work as innovative and predicting “direct,positive and culturally relevant impacts for people in recovery” and also on clinical practice and impacted communities.
Yang also highlighted the supportive environment of the VCU doctoral program, especially as an international student. “The faculty, staff and colleagues…have been incredibly supportive…The program has provided not only professional training but also a sense of community that supports students throughout a journey that can often be mentally and emotionally demanding.”
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