Gender differences in treatment outcomes among participants in a mixed-gender substance abuse aftercare program

This study examined gender and gender-related predictors in multiple outcomes of substance abuse aftercare treatment among 78 females and 141 males enrolled in a mixed-gender aftercare program in Massachusetts from 1994 to 1996. Female participants entered the program with higher needs than their male counterparts, showing a worse condition in almost all baseline characteristics, of which many are statistically significant. The generalized estimating equations (GEE) model revealed significant gender differences in the two treatment outcomes of employment income and illegal activity days. Also, many significant gender-related predictors and interaction variables were found.