ABSTRACT

Secure residential youth care facilities try to optimize their help by offering gender-specific treatment, in an attempt to achieve positive behavioral change in adolescents. In this study, we examined behavioral change in a sample of 239 Dutch adolescents (M age = 15.59 years, SD = 1.36 years, 54.9% girls) in secure residential care. Pretest, posttest and follow-up measurements were carried out for behavioral problems, PTSD symptoms, emotion regulation, perceived competence and family problems. Comparisons were made between girls in gender-specific care, and girls and boys in regular care. Missing data analyses revealed the dataset contained many missing values. Analyses were performed at group level, using MANCOVA, ANCOVA’s and bootstrapped planned contrast, and at case level, using the Reliable Change Index. At group level, results revealed higher effectiveness of gender-specific care for girls compared to regular care for girls, only in diminishing externalizing behavioral problems. Overall, there were more similarities than differences in the effectiveness of gender-specific versus regular help. At individual level, 0–58% of the adolescents improved during their stay in secure residential care. However, most adolescents showed no change (25–88%) or even deterioration (0–39%). These results strongly emphasize the need for alternative interventions.

摘要

安全的寄宿青年护理机构试图通过提供针对不同性别的治疗来优化他们的帮助，以期在青少年中实现积极的行为改变。在这项研究中，我们检查了 239 名荷兰青少年样本的行为变化（M年龄 = 15.59 岁，SD = 1.36 岁，54.9% 的女孩）在安全的寄宿家庭中。对行为问题、PTSD 症状、情绪调节、感知能力和家庭问题进行了前测、后测和后续测量。对接受特定性别护理的女孩与接受常规护理的女孩和男孩进行了比较。缺失数据分析显示数据集包含许多缺失值。使用 MANCOVA、ANCOVA 和自举计划对比在组级别进行分析，在案例级别使用可靠变化指数进行分析。在群体层面，结果显示，与对女孩的常规护理相比，针对女孩的针对性别的护理更有效，只是在减少外化行为问题方面。总体而言，针对特定性别的帮助与常规帮助的有效性相比，相似之处多于差异。在个人层面，0–58% 的青少年在安全的住宿护理期间有所改善。然而，大多数青少年没有变化 (25–88%) 甚至恶化 (0–39%)。这些结果强烈强调了替代干预措施的必要性。