Overview
This project entails to gain a deeper understanding of the development of treatment motivation over the course of intramural and outpatient forensic youth care. Research questions are 1) How does treatment motivation of youth and parents develop over the course of forensic systemic therapy, and following the transition from inpatient to outpatient therapy?; 2) Which client factors, interpersonal factors, and contextual characteristics moderate the development of treatment motivation?; 3) Which mechanisms play a role in the development of treatment motivation?; and 4) How does treatment motivation affect treatment retention and the achievement of primary therapy goals?
Description
Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT) has been shown to motivate youth and parents in forensic care for treatment. The current study will investigate the development of treatment motivation of youth and parents over the course of MDFT, offered in a juvenile justice center. Furthermore, mechanisms and moderators will be examined, in addition to the impact of treatment motivation on treatment retention and goal achievement. Two studies with a Multiple Case Experimental Design (MCED), one with an ABC design (A = baseline, B = residential MDFT, and C = outpatient MDFT) and one with an AB design, will be conducted. Juveniles who enter residential MDFT, during a short detention period (study 1; 10 cases) or during a longer detention period (study 2; 6 cases) will be recruited, as will their parents.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- entering residential MDFT
Exclusion Criteria:
- (only for short term residents) residing more than an hours' drive from the juvenile justice center after detention