Group climate and treatment motivation in secure residential and forensic youth care from the perspective of self determination theory. (October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van der Helm, G.H.P.; Kuiper, C.H.Z.; Stams, G.J.J.M.
• Is Part Of: Children and youth services review. Volume 93(2018)
• Page Start: 339
• Page End: 344
• Publication Date: 2018-10
• Subjects: Secure residential and forensic youth care -- Group climate -- Treatment motivation -- Self-determination theory; 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.2018.07.028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0190-7409

Abstract

Abstract: Treatment motivation in secure residential youth care is assumed to be a necessary condition for effective treatment, and is therefore a key element in the reduction of problem behavior and criminal recidivism. According to Self-Determination Theory (SDT) three basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence and relatedness) are essential for treatment motivation, which are characteristics of a positive residential group climate. Based on SDT, we examined whether a therapeutic (open) group climate and low levels of institutional repression were associated with treatment motivation of adolescents residing in (semi-) secure residential youth care facilities. An ethnically diverse sample was studied of 179 respondents ( M = 16.2 years; SD = 1.5), in 12 Dutch (semi)secure youth care facilities and 9 forensic youth care institutions. We measured residential group climate with the PGCI and treatment motivation with the ATMQ, and fitted a Cross-Lagged Panel Model (CLPM) of residential group climate and treatment motivation. It was found that a positive group climate in the first month after placement predicted greater treatment motivation three months later.