IMPACT OF FAMILY SYSTEMS INTERVENTION ON RECIDIVISM AND SIBLING DELINQUENCY - A MODEL OF PRIMARY PREVENTION AND PROGRAM EVALUATION

• NCJ Number: 46332
• Journal: Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology Volume: 45 Issue: 3 Dated: (1977) Pages: 469-474
• Author(s): N C KLEIN; J F ALEXANDER; B V PARSONS
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 6 pages
• Grant Number(s): 72-P-40061/8-01; 774-180-13
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare; University of Utah
• Corporate Author: American Psychological Assoc
• Sale Source: University of Utah
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PORTIONS OF THIS STUDY WERE PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WESTERN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, SACRAMENTO, APRIL 1975

Annotation

A PROGRAM EVALUATION MODEL FOCUSING ON TERTIARY, SECONDARY, AND PRIMARY PREVENTION EFFECTS OF INTERVENTION IS DESCRIBED AS IT APPLIES TO AN INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR DELINQUENTS FOCUSING ON FAMILY INTERACTION.

Abstract

EIGHTY-SIX FAMILIES OF DELINQUENTS WERE RANDOMLY ASSIGNED TO ONE OF FOUR TREATMENT CONDITIONS: NO TREATMENT CONTROLS, A CLIENT-CENTERED FAMILY APPROACH, AN ECLECTIC-DYNAMIC APPROACH, AND A BEHAVIORALLY ORIENTED SHORT-TERM FAMILY SYSTEMS APPROACH. THE SHORT-TERM FAMILY SYSTEMS APPROACH INVOLVED A SET OF CLEARLY DEFINED THERAPIST INTERVENTIONS FOCUSED ON CHANGING FAMILY INTERACTION PATTERNS IN THE DIRECTION OF GREATER CLARITY AND PRECISION OF COMMUNICATION, INCREASED RECIPROCITY OF COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL REINFORCEMENT, AND CONTINGENCY CONTRACTING EMPHASIZING EQUIVALENCE OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ALL FAMILY MEMBERS. A PROGRAM EVALUATION MODEL WAS DEVELOPED TO MEASURE THREE LEVELS OF PREVENTION EFFECTS: PROCESS CHANGES IN FAMILY INTERACTION AT THE TERMINATION OF TREATMENT (TERTIARY PREVENTION); RECIDIVISM RATES OF IDENTIFIED DELINQUENTS 6-18 MONTHS FOLLOWING TREATMENT (SECONDARY PREVENTION); AND RATE OF SIBLING CONTACT WITH THE COURT 2.5-3.5 YEARS FOLLOWING INTERVENTION (PRIMARY PREVENTION). THE FAMILY SYSTEMS APPROACH, WHEN COMPARED TO THE OTHER CONDITIONS, PRODUCED SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESS MEASURES AND A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN RECIDIVISM. TO EVALUATE THE PRIMARY PREVENTION IMPACT, JUVENILE COURT RECORDS WERE EXAMINED TO OBTAIN RATES OF COURT REFERRALS FOR SIBLINGS OF INITIALLY REFERRED DELINQUENTS. RESULTS INDICATED THAT ONLY 20% OF FAMILIES IN THE TREATMENT CONDITION HAD SUBSEQUENT COURT CONTACTS FOR SIBLINGS, COMPARED TO A 40% RATE FOR NO-TREATMENT CONTROLS AND 59% AND 63% RATES FOR THE ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT CONDITIONS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--RCB)