Why Meaning and Purpose Are Central to Long-Term Recovery

By Dr Kevin McInerney

This blog explores recent research led by STAR associate researcher Dr Kevin McInerney, in partnership with Professor David Best and Professor Philip Hodgson, examining individuals aged 50 and over in recovery from problematic alcohol use.

The study is one in a series of six peer-reviewed papers that have been published over the last two years and come from his PhD: Late-onset alcohol use disorder/problem drinking — Psychosocial characteristics and the role of meaning and purpose in life. Links to the six papers and Kevin’s thesis appear in a list at the end of this blog.

Introducing Dr Kevin McInerney

Kevin is a researcher specialising in addiction recovery, with a particular focus on meaning, purpose, and identity. His work explores late-onset problem drinking, a group that represents around one-third of problem drinkers in the over-50 population and remains significantly under-represented in research.

His study examined 381 individuals aged 50 and over, with an average of 9.4 years in recovery, offering valuable insight into how recovery evolves over time.

Recovery Deepens Over Time

A central finding of the research is clear:

• The longer a person remains in recovery, the stronger their sense of meaning and purpose becomes.

• Individuals with more time in recovery reported greater clarity about their life direction, a stronger sense of purpose, and increased feelings that life is meaningful.

• In contrast, those in earlier recovery were more likely to be searching for meaning, highlighting a critical window where the right support can make a significant difference.

• This reinforces an important message: meaning is not a by-product of recovery; it is something that develops and strengthens over time.

  
  

Recovery Is More Than Abstinence

Traditional recovery models have often focused on treatment completion or abstinence. While these are important milestones, they are not the full picture.

Kevin’s research highlights that meaning and purpose are central components of sustained recovery, aligning with established frameworks such as Recovery Capital and the CHIME model (Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning, Empowerment).

Interestingly, recovery is not a single event; it is a developmental process that unfolds over time, which continues to support an individual’s personal development.

What This Means for Services and Systems

These findings challenge how recovery support is designed and delivered.

Individuals in early recovery are often navigating identity change, loss and transition, and uncertainty about the future. They need more than clinical stabilisation. They need opportunities to build meaningful roles, reconnect with community, and explore purpose and identity.

Sustainable recovery is built through growth, not just compliance.

Importantly, the research also offers a strong message of hope. Meaning increases over time. For those in early recovery, this provides reassurance that life can and does become more purposeful.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The study found that meaning and purpose are not dependent on a specific recovery pathway.

What matters most is time in recovery, continued engagement, and access to supportive environments.

This reinforces the need for diverse, person-centred pathways, an approach central to STAR’s work.

A Growing and Overlooked Population

The research also highlights an important trend - women are increasingly at risk of developing problematic drinking later in life.

Late-onset drinking is often linked to life transitions such as retirement (which for many individuals can have an adverse impact on their identity), children leaving home (empty nest syndrome), bereavement and social isolation.

This group frequently experiences higher levels of stigma and is less likely to seek support, indicating a need for targeted, gender-responsive approaches.

Beyond Recovery: Building Better Lives

Meaning and purpose are not just recovery outcomes; they are health outcomes.

Higher levels of purpose are associated with improved physical health, reduced risk of chronic illness, greater social engagement, and better overall wellbeing.

This highlights the importance of whole-person recovery, integrating evidence, lived experience, and measurable outcomes.

Final Reflection

Recovery is not just about stopping something. It is about building something new.

This research shows that meaning and purpose are not immediate, but they are achievable, and they grow with time.

If you would like to learn more about this work or speak with Kevin directly, please contact: kevin@starrecovery.co.uk

Links to Kevin’s paper and his thesis:

McInerney, K., Best, D., & Hodgson, P. (2025). An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and Comparison of the Narratives of Early- and Late-Onset Problem Drinkers in Recovery. SAGE Open, 15(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251356833

McInerney, K., Best, D., & Hodgson, P. (2025). A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of the Retrospective “Active Drinking Voices” of Two Types of Older Problem Drinkers, Now in Recovery. Contemporary Drug Problems, 00914509251339494. https://doi.org/10.1177/00914509251339494

McInerney, K., Best, D. (2026). A qualitative comparative investigation of the role of social recovery capital among early- and late-onset problem drinkers in recovery. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2026.2622377

McInerney, K., & Best, D. (2025). Acknowledging the crucial role of Max Glatt in the development of the Jellinek curve and the enduring relevance of his model of recovery from problem drinking. Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.70053

McInerney, K., Best, D., & Hodgson, P. (2024). A Cross-Sectional Study Investigating the Role of Meaning and Purpose in Life Among Older Individuals (≥50-Years Old) in Recovery from Alcohol Use Disorder/Problem Drinking. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 43(2), 230-252. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/07347324.2024.2423672

McInerney, K., Best, D., & Cross, A. (2023). Characteristics of people who have received treatment for late-onset problem drinking and alcohol use disorder: A systematic review and narrative synthesis. Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, (Online First). https://doi.org/10.1177/14550725221143170

Kevin’s Thesis: https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/36266/

If you would like a full copy of the ‘Max Glatt’ paper, please contact Kevin.