Group Care Worker Behavior and Adolescents' Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in Compulsory Residential Care

• NCJ Number: 237659
• Journal: Residential Treatment For Children & Youth Volume: 28 Issue: 3 Dated: July - September 2011 Pages: 232-250
• Author(s): Coleta Van Dam Ph.D.; Karin S. Nijhof M.Sc.; Jan Willem Veerman Ph.D.; Rutger C.M.E. Engels Ph.D.; Ron H.J. Scholte Ph.D.; Marc J.M.H. Delsing Ph.D.
• Date Published: August 2011
• Length: 19 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined group care workers' behavior toward adolescents' problem behavior was measured.

Abstract

In the present study, group care workers' behavior toward adolescents' problem behavior was measured. The sample consisted of 126 adolescents (M age = 15.80, SD = 1.23, 56 percent boys), residing in a new Dutch compulsory residential treatment program. Latent growth curve analyses revealed that group care workers exerted more structuring and controlling behavior toward adolescents with externalizing problems and more warmth and support toward adolescents with internalizing problems. No associations were found between group care workers' behavior and the adolescents' treatment progress. Clinical implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed. (Published Abstract)