Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


ohiou1273191380.pdf (328.5 KB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

The Impact of Parental Attributions and Characteristics on Treatment Outcome in Multisystemic Therapy for Delinquent Youth

Johannes, Lindsay M.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1273191380

Abstract Details

2010, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Psychology (Arts and Sciences).
The goal of the current study was to examine parental attributions about their child’s behavior, beliefs, and attitudes in the context of participation in Multisystemic treatment (MST) for delinquent youth. MST focuses on the youth and their family, and requires intense participation by the parents, as well as the youth (e.g. Henggeler et al., 1986). Due to parents’ integral involvement in treatment, the impact of their attributions, self-efficacy and motivation may have implications for treatment success. Research applying attributional theory to treatment of behavioral problems is limited, and the present study sought to provide information to fill this gap in clinical research. The attribution dimensions of locus of causality, controllability, stability, and globality were measured to determine the extent to which initial attributions were associated with initial feelings of parental self-efficacy, and parents’ motivation for participation in treatment. The study also examined the role of attributions, self-efficacy, and treatment motivation as predictors of treatment outcome, as measured by a decrease in the severity of problematic behaviors. In addition to the predictive model, changes in parental self-efficacy over the course of treatment were analyzed, to assess the effectiveness of MST interventions at increasing parents’ sense of efficacy and control of the child’s behavior. The study included 142 parents of children with delinquency problems, who were recruited to participate at intake into one of five participating MST program. Parents completed measures at intake and discharge from treatment. Correlational analyses revealed that associations existed between the attribution domains, as well as associations between attributions, parents perceived of control of the child, and treatment motivation. Paired samples t-tests were conducted to determine changes in problem severity, as well as parental efficacy through treatment. Results found that the youth achieved significant reduction in problem severity, as rated by their parents. In addition, the parent’s sense of control of the child increased through treatment. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to test the study variables as predictors of treatment outcome. It was found that none of the hypothesized variables contributed to a predictive model, once initial problem severity and length of treatment were accounted for in the model. Results from this study contribute to the existing research in the domains of parental self-efficacy, treatment motivation and attributions, by examining associations between these variables in a clinical population. Important clinical information provided by this study was that MST was effective for the treatment of severe behavior problems among youth, regardless of parental perceptions.
Benjamin Ogles, PhD (Committee Chair)
Christine Gidycz, PhD (Committee Member)
Julie Owens, PhD (Committee Member)
Bruce Carlson, PhD (Committee Member)
Thomas Vander Ven, PhD (Committee Member)
93 p.
Psychology
Multisystemic Therapy; Juvenile Delinquency; Conduct Problems; Treatment Outcome; Parental Perceptions; Attributions

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Johannes, L. M. (2010). The Impact of Parental Attributions and Characteristics on Treatment Outcome in Multisystemic Therapy for Delinquent Youth [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1273191380

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Johannes, Lindsay. The Impact of Parental Attributions and Characteristics on Treatment Outcome in Multisystemic Therapy for Delinquent Youth. 2010. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1273191380.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Johannes, Lindsay. "The Impact of Parental Attributions and Characteristics on Treatment Outcome in Multisystemic Therapy for Delinquent Youth." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1273191380

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1273191380
1,541
© 2010, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.