Gender differences in adolescents in residential treatment.

Abstract

Gender differences for adolescents in residential care were examined for a sample of 2,067 youths in a large residential facility. At admission, female youths were more troubled than male youths, as shown in significantly higher Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC) diagnoses and comorbidity rates, higher internalizing and externalizing Child Behavior Checklist scores, and significantly higher Suicide Prevention Scale hopelessness, negative self-evaluation, and suicide ideation scores. Girls had higher rates of depressive and anxiety diagnoses on the DISC at both admission and 1 year. Both genders demonstrated significant reductions in both externalizing and internalizing problem behaviors over the first year in the program. Girls had significantly higher rates of internalizing problem behavior but showed a significantly greater reduction in these behaviors than did boys. At departure, girls were rated as being more successful than boys by clinical staff. Youths did not differ by gender in their behavior on a 6-month follow-up success scale. Implications for prioritizing research addressing the needs of female adolescents in residential care are discussed.

Parenting Stress as a Predictor of Age Upon Admission to a Child Psychiatric Inpatient Facility

“…For example, typical complaints upon admission to a child inpatient unit include failing to follow instructions (87.9%), school behavior problems (58.1%), and substance use (52.1%). Internalizing symptoms such as depression and withdrawal symptoms (44.5%), and suicidal threats (16.1%) are reported less frequently [6]. Despite the short-and long-term effects of internalizing symptoms, children who exhibit mood or anxiety symptoms often do not receive treatment or their treatment is significantly delayed.…”

Suicidal Risk in Adolescent Residential Treatment: Being Female Is More Important Than a Depression Diagnosis

“…As a result, studies have sought to further examine the composition of youth entering residential treatment programs. Some of this recent work has focused on gender differences that may be present in these programs (e.g., Connor et al 2004;Handwerk et al 2006;Weis et al 2005).…”

“…Research has documented gender differences in the rates of psychopathology (Handwerk et al 2006;Hartung and Widiger 1998;Rutter et al 2003), developmental trajectories of childhood disorders (Bongers et al 2003;Hussey and Guo 2002;Keenan and Shaw 1997), risk factors (Chamberlain and Reid 1994;Piccinelli and Wilkinson 2000), and treatment response (Chamberlain and Reid 1994) in clinical and community based samples.…”

“…However, these global descriptions of youth in residential treatment may ignore the heterogeneity present within this population. More importantly, the descriptions disregard gender differences in the prevalence of comorbid internalizing disorders among these youth (Handwerk et al 2006). As a result, studies have sought to further examine the composition of youth entering residential treatment programs.…”

“…Female adolescents constitute almost half of the youth in residential care (Child Welfare League of America 2005). Studies examining youth from residential treatment have often described them in global terms as delinquent, antisocial, and prone to conduct problems and aggression (Connor et al 2004;Handwerk et al 2006). However, these global descriptions of youth in residential treatment may ignore the heterogeneity present within this population.…”