ERIC Number: EJ1099506
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Jun
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1053-1890
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
A Multilevel Model to Examine Adolescent Outcomes in Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare: The Parent Perspective
Combs, Katie Massey; Hoag, Matthew J.; Roberts, Sean D.; Javorski, Stephen
Child & Youth Care Forum, v45 n3 p353-365 Jun 2016
Background: Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare (OBH) has arisen to fill a gap in mental health treatment. While research shows large positive changes in adolescent self-reports, little is known about predictors of change, longitudinal outcomes, and parent-reports of change. Objective This study sought to identify treatment outcomes up to 18 months post-discharge and predictors of change for parents of adolescent clients in OBH treatment. Methods: Parents of 659 adolescents from four OBH programs were invited to complete questionnaires at intake, discharge, and 6 and 18 months post-discharge. A regression was conducted to examine change during treatment, and a multilevel model to examine trajectories of change post-treatment. Results: OBH participants entered treatment with clinically significant levels of emotional and behavioral dysfunction, made significant change during the program, and discharged within the "normal" range of functioning. Post-discharge scores indicated that clients remained in the "normal" range of functioning 6 and 18 months post-discharge. The regression analysis found that parent intake scores and attachment disorders were predictive of in-treatment change. The MLM found that parent perceptions of treatment gains and adoption status were significant predictors of functioning post-discharge. Conclusions: Results are in-line with previous research suggesting that OBH may be helpful to adolescents experiencing a wide range of presenting problems, and adds new insights as well. Parent-reports parallel the dramatic changes in adolescent self-reports documented throughout OBH literature; data up to 18 months post-treatment shows healthy functioning per the parent perspective; and adoption and attachment appear to play a role in outcome trajectories.
Descriptors: Outdoor Education, Mental Health, Health Promotion, Intervention, Predictor Variables, Adolescents, Parents, Questionnaires, Program Effectiveness, Regression (Statistics), Emotional Disturbances, Behavior Problems, Behavior Change, Scores, Attachment Behavior, Parent Attitudes
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A