SHORT-TERM BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION WITH DELINQUENT FAMILIES - IMPACT ON FAMILY PROCESS AND RECIDIVISM

• NCJ Number: 16434
• Journal: Journal of Abnormal Psychology Volume: 81 Issue: 3 Dated: (1973) Pages: 219-225
• Author(s): J F ALEXANDER; B V PARSONS
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 7 pages
• Grant Number(s): 72-P-40061/8-01
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Corporate Author: American Psychological Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS RESEARCH DESIGN TESTED THE EFFICACY OF A SHORTTERMED, SPECIFIC, BEHAVIORAL FAMILY TREATMENT FOR DELINQUENT TEENAGERS.

Abstract

BASED ON PRIOR FAMILY INTERACTION STUDIES AND A SYSTEMS CONCEPTUALIZATION OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR, A SPECIFIC, SHORTTERM BEHAVIORALLY ORIENTED FAMILY INTERVENTION PROGRAM DESIGNED TO INCREASE FAMILY RECIPROCITY, CLARITY OF COMMUNICATION, AND CONTINGENCY CONTRACTING WAS DEVELOPED FOR DELINQUENT TEENAGERS. THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT 46 FAMILIES RECEIVING THE PROGRAM DEMONSTRATED SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THREE FAMILY INTERACTION MEASURES AT THE END OF THERAPY, AND ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED RECIDIVISM RATES AT FOLLOW-UP WHEN COMPARED TO 30 FAMILIES RECEIVING ALTERNATE FORMS OF FAMILY THERAPY AND A TOTAL OF 52 FAMILIES RECEIVING NO PROFESSIONAL TREATMENT. THE STUDY EMPHASIZED THE UTILITY OF A THERAPY EVALUATION PHILOSOPHY THAT INCLUDES A CLEAR DESCRIPTION OF INTERVENTION TECHNIQUES, A DESCRIPTION OF EXPECTED PROCESS CHANGES, STRINGENT NONREACTIVE OUTCOME MEASURES, AND CONTROLS FOR MATURATION AND ATTENTION PLACEBOS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)