Evaluating a social problem solving intervention for juvenile detainees: Depressive outcomes and moderators of effectiveness

Abstract

This study reports findings from the administration of a social problem-solving training (SPST) intervention to juvenile detainees in the Connecticut Youth Detainee Program. SPST is a cognitive behavioral intervention that teaches children and youth how to more effectively cope with interpersonal stress and conflict. In the current study, we tested whether SPST could decrease depressive symptoms in a sample of detained adolescent offenders. The study used a randomized-control design with detention staff administering the intervention. The results showed that SPST, as a main effect, was not more effective in reducing depressive symptoms than treatment as usual. However, the effectiveness of SPST was moderated by fluid intelligence. Juvenile detainees with high intelligence scores were most likely to benefit from SPST compared to treatment as usual. It was surprising that, for those with lower intelligence scores, SPST increased depressive symptoms relative to treatment as usual. These results help fill a critical need for intervention effectiveness data on juvenile detainees and indicate that SPST may not be useful for reducing outcomes such as depression.

Mental health interventions for youth who are incarcerated: A systematic review of literature.

“…In the Clair-Michaud et al’s (2016) study, 90% met criteria for marijuana use disorder ( n = 163) and 63% ( n = 114) met criteria for alcohol use disorder. Additionally, two studies (Calleja, 2020; Olafson et al, 2018) used existence of trauma symptoms as criterion for youth participation and youth in the Haeffel et al’s (2017) study were excluded if they had a prior diagnosis of psychosis or mental retardation, or received “warning” scores on the MAYSI-2. Also, Youth race/ethnicity was missing in one study (Brogan et al, 2020) and not reported clearly in another two (Baglivio & Jackowski, 2015; Elwyn et al, 2015), but the other researchers reported a total of 325 White youth, 435 Black youth, 232 Hispanic youth, and 17 youth identified as Other.…”

“…The two group interventions and one individual intervention that focused on symptom reduction addressed sexual arousal, trauma symptomology, and depressive symptoms. It is noteworthy that while the Haeffel et al (2017) and Brogan et al (2020) interventions were based on some limited and related research, the Calleja (2020) intervention included evidence-based T-F CBT. While Calleja modified the program due to a lack of parental participation and there were methodological concerns, results indicating a reduction in trauma symptoms are consistent with previous research.…”

“…In contrast, there were no statistically significant results for any of the sexual-related trauma symptoms. Haeffel et al (2017) conducted a randomized controlled trial with an active control (n = 178) condition focusing on the effects of social problem-solving training (SPST; n = 118) to reduce depressive symptoms of detained youth, and the extent to which results were moderated by youth intelligence. There is mention that the correctional officers that implemented the program received 8 hr of training, but no information was provided on the content or format of the training.…”

Identity Distress, Parental Response, and Problem Behaviors in Juvenile Justice-Involved Boys

“…In sum, although it has never been explicitly conceptualized as such, the developmental task of identity formation in adolescence may be a source of distress (within both normative and “at-risk” contexts; Westen et al, 2011). In turn, this could be associated with an increased risk for a range of problem behaviors, law-breaking behaviors, and involvement with the juvenile justice system (Barbot & Hunter, 2012; Crocetti et al, 2013; Haeffel et al, 2017).…”

“…To address the aforementioned gaps in the literature, we hypothesize that identity distress (typical in both “normative” and “at-risk” adolescent development; Westen et al, 2011) may account for the relationship between parental support (e.g., response to adolescents’ distress) and externalizing problems of youth involved in the juvenile justice system. To our knowledge, this indirect association has not been tested, in particular among youth involved with the juvenile justice system who often grow up in challenging circumstances and are at heightened risk for externalizing problems (Haeffel et al, 2017; Hein et al, 2017). Because dimensions of supportive parenting have been linked to reduced adolescent internalized distress (Fletcher et al, 2004), it is likely that a supportive parental response may be particularly important to help adolescents cope with identity-related distress, in turn preventing problem behaviors.…”