Predictors of Physical Altercation among Adolescents in Residential Substance Abuse Treatment

Abstract

This study tested the hypothesis that basic social information-processing components represented by family conflict, peer aggression, and pro-aggression cognitive scripts are related to aggression and social problems among adolescents in substance abuse treatment. The sample consisted of 547 adolescents in two community-based residential facilities. Correlation results indicated that more peer aggression is related to more pro-aggression scripts; scripts, peer aggression, and family conflict are associated with social problems; and in-treatment physical altercation involvement is predicted by higher peer aggression. Findings suggest that social information-processing components are valuable for treatment research.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA; Grant R01DA013093). The interpretations and conclusions, however, do not necessarily represent the position of the NIDA, National Institutes of Health, or Department of Health and Human Services.

Notes on contributors

Rachel D. Crawley

RACHEL D. CRAWLEY is a doctoral candidate and graduate research assistant at Texas Christian University’s Institute of Behavioral Research. Rachel currently monitors data collection and data quality for the TCU Adolescent Project, a 5-year National Institute of Drug Use–funded grant examining the effectiveness of the Treatment Readiness and Induction Program among adolescents in substance abuse treatment. Her recent research endeavors center on the impact of social and cognitive factors on treatment motivation and engagement among adolescents in substance abuse treatment, and the use of structured guide-maps to improve decision making complexity.

Jennifer Edwards Becan

JENNIFER EDWARDS BECAN is an Associate Research Scientist at Texas Christian University’s Institute of Behavioral Research. Since 2006, she has worked on three large-scale projects funded by the National Institute of Drug Use. Her early endeavors culminated in publications on the development and utilization of assessment and information systems for treatment providers to monitor organizational attributes and resources including perceptions of program leadership, service delivery and staff turnover. Her more recent studies center on examining the dissemination and implementation of evidence based practices that improve treatment motivation and counter poor decision making among adolescents in substance use treatment. In addition to serving as Project Director and Scientist for this implementation science project, Dr. Becan also serves as Project Director and Scientist on a large-scale study aimed at developing and testing effective strategies for implementing evidence-based practices that enhance service delivery for juveniles in the legal system and promote sustainable change across large, multifaceted juvenile justice and behavioral health systems.

Danica Kalling Knight

DANICA KALLING KNIGHT is a Research Scientist at Texas Christian University’s Institute of Behavioral Research. Throughout her career, Dr. Knight has engaged in large-scale research projects designed to further understanding of substance abuse treatment processes and promote best practices. Her publications have focused on the importance of social factors for clients in treatment, factors affecting adolescent recovery from substance use, and organizational features associated with service provision and staff turnover. In addition to her current role as Co-Investigator on a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) grant to adapt therapeutic tools for use with adolescent populations and examine organizational barriers to widespread use, Dr. Knight also serves as Principal Investigator on a NIDA-funded cooperative aimed at improving the availability of quality assessment, treatment, and prevention services for adolescents in the legal system.

George W. Joe

GEORGE W. JOE is a Senior Research Scientist at Texas Christian University’s Institute of Behavioral Research in Fort Worth. His research has focused on the components of the treatment process, evaluation models for treatment effectiveness, etiology of drug abuse, and statistical methodology. He has served as a member of the National Institute on Drug Abuse Treatment Research Subcommittee and Special Emphasis Panels. He is also a frequent reviewer for professional journals.

Patrick M. Flynn

PATRICK M. FLYNN is the Director of the Institute of Behavioral Research and a tenured Professor, and he also holds the Saul B. Sells Chair of Psychology at Texas Christian University. Dr. Flynn’s research has focused on the effectiveness and benefits of treatment, and included clinical assessment, questionnaire development, multisite clinical trials, dissemination and implementation in community-based programs in the United States, United Kingdom, and Italy, studies of organizational functioning and costs in outpatient treatments, and treatment services and outcomes research in community and correctional settings. He is a Fellow in the American Educational Research Association and in several divisions of the American Psychological Association, a frequent member and chair of federal grant review panels, serves on journal editorial boards, and a regular reviewer for professional journals. Since 1990, when he returned to the research environs, he has been the Principal Investigator/Project Director and Co-Director of national studies of substance abuse treatment.