Objective: This article is a systematic review identifying effective family-based interventions for adolescent substance use problems. Method: A substantive review of each intervention is conducted using guidelines for effective treatment for substance use problems. Additionally, a methodological review of each study is done using criteria for empirically validated treatments. Results: Treatment components of five interventions-Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT), Family Behavior Therapy, Functional Family Therapy, Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT), and Multisystemic Treatment-were consistent with a majority of guidelines for effective treatment. Notable exceptions include no aftercare and poor treatment retention. MDFT and BSFT met criteria of probably efficacious treatment, whereas the other interventions represented promising treatments. Moreover, MDFT demonstrated clinically significant changes in substance use and large effect sizes at posttreatment and follow-up. Conclusion: To increase provision of effective adolescent substance abuse treatment, social workers should use these research findings to guide implementation.
A study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of a 5-session relationship violence prevention program involving a middle school of predominantly African-American students. A composite measure assessed changes in knowledge, attitudes, and methods of dealing with relationship violence. A pretest-posttest control group design was used. Results indicated that treatment group scores were significantly higher than control group scores at posttest (p < .001) and treatment group posttest scores were significantly higher than pretest scores (p < .001). There were significant differences in scores between regular-level students and those with a higher level of academic ability (advanced students). Within the treatment group, there was a level-by-gender interaction revealing that male advanced students made the highest gains. In examining specific items, improvements were made in knowledge about relationship violence and attitudes about nonphysical violence. No changes were seen in attitudes about physical violence or in methods of dealing with relationship violence.
This study investigates the relationship between engagement, denial, and treatment progress among a sample of 61 male sex offenders in outpatient group therapy. Three hypotheses were posed: (1) that denial is inversely related to engagement in group therapy; (2) that denial is inversely related to treatment progress, and (3) that engagement is correlated with treatment progress. Results revealed a strong correlation between engagement in group therapy, measured by the Group Engagement Measure, and sex offender treatment progress, assessed by the Sex Offender Treatment Rating Scale. Denial, measured by the Facets of Sexual Offender Denial Scale, demonstrated a strong inverse relationship to treatment progress. Engagement and denial were also strongly inversely related. Together, engagement and denial explained a significant amount of the variance in treatment progress. The findings provide support for current standards of practice that maintain that admitting to a sex crime is a necessary condition for progress and engagement in treatment. Strategies for increasing engagement and treatment progress, and reducing denial, are discussed.
Objectives: Despite their popularity, little is known about what distinguishes effective from ineffective or even iatrogenic adolescent group interventions. Methods: Audio recordings and transcripts from 19, 8-10 session, school-based treatment groups comprised of 108, substance abusing 10-to 19-year olds were analyzed. Group leader empathy was measured globally, while two new constructs, group commitment and peer response, were measured using discourse analysis. All variables were measured at the group level. Results: Associations among these process variables were tested and supported, as were the hypothesized associations between both group member language constructs and marijuana use outcomes. Conclusions: These findings were consistent with a proposed theoretical model in which group commitment and peer response predict marijuana use outcomes and mediate the effects of group leader empathy. These observable, in-session, verbal behaviors could distinguish whether adolescents in a group intervention will decrease, maintain, or possibly increase the targeted behavior and are likely influenced by group leader empathy.
Objective: This article describes the development of a measure of foundation competencies in group work derived from the Standards for Social Work Practice with Groups. Developed by the Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups, the Standards have not been widely used. An instrument based on the Standards can help advance evidence-based teaching and practice. Methods: Items were drawn from the Standards yielding a 70-item inventory measuring two domains for each item: how important the item is for successful group work and how confident the respondent is about demonstrating the skill in practice. Psychometric testing involved 426 mostly students. Results: The alpha for both the importance and the confidence subscales was .98, with low standard errors of measurement. Developed directly from the Standards, the inventory had prima facie content validity, further supported by expert ratings. Significant correlations between the subscales and validators supported a range of validity analyses.
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