Detained girls' treatment engagement over time: The role of psychopathology and quality of life. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Van Damme, Lore; Hoeve, Machteld; Vanderplasschen, Wouter; Vermeiren, Robert; Grisso, Thomas; Colins, Olivier F.
• Is Part Of: Children and youth services review. Volume 59(2015:Dec.)
• Page Start: 47
• Page End: 56
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Engagement -- Mental health -- Quality of life -- Forensic psychiatry -- Young offenders -- Follow-up studies; Social work with children -- Periodicals; Social work with youth -- Periodicals; Adolescent -- Periodicals; Child Welfare -- Periodicals; Social Work -- Periodicals; Service social aux enfants -- Périodiques; Service social à la jeunesse -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2015.10.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0190-7409

Abstract

Abstract: Although treatment engagement is considered important to achieve positive outcomes, it is still not well known why some girls in detention are more engaged in treatment than others. This is the first study to examine to what extent psychopathology and self-perceived quality of life (QoL) are related to treatment engagement. Participants were 108 detained girls ( M age = 16.21) who completed standardized questionnaires about mental health problems and QoL, and were interviewed with a structured diagnostic interview to assess DSM-IV psychiatric disorders. One and two months after this baseline assessment, the girls reported how much they engaged in treatment. The results showed low levels of treatment engagement and no significant changes in treatment engagement over time. Overall, detained girls with internalizing disorders reported higher treatment engagement scores, while the reverse was true for girls with externalizing disorders. Regarding QoL, the girls with greater satisfaction about their physical and psychological health and about their environment reported higher treatment engagement, while the opposite was true for the domain of social relationships. Our findings emphasize the need for strength-based and motivational approaches and techniques in residential treatment programs for girls, in order to enable change. Highlights: Up to now, few studies have addressed detained girls' treatment engagement. We tested the effect of psychopathology and QoL on treatment engagement over time. Detained girls showed low treatment engagement, without any changes over time. Effects of psychopathology and QoL depended on the type/dimension of interest. Our findings urge the need for motivational approaches in treating detained girls.