Measuring Behaviors of Individual Adolescents During Group-Based Substance Abuse Intervention

ABSTRACT

Background: Group treatment is delivered in youth correctional facilities, yet groups may be iatrogenic. Few measures with demonstrated psychometric properties exist to track behaviors of individuals during groups. The authors assessed psychometrics for the Group Process—Individual Level measure (GP-IL) of group treatment. Methods: N = 152 teens were randomized to 1 of 2 groups (10 sessions each). Adolescents, counselors, and observers rated teen behaviors at sessions 3 and 10. GP-IL assesses reinforcement for deviancy and positive behaviors, member rejection, and counselor connection and praise. Results: Internal consistency and 1-month stability were demonstrated. Concurrent validity is supported by correlations with measures expected to be associated with group behavior (e.g., coping skills). Counselors and observers rated more deviancy during interactive skills-building groups versus didactic psychoeducational groups (P ≤ .005). Scales evidenced incremental validity. Conclusions: GP-IL offers a sound method of tracking adolescent behaviors for professionals working with groups. Counselors ratings were most reliable and valid overall.

Keywords:

• Delinquency
• group assessment
• substance treatment

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to thank Suzanne Sales and Rick Palumbo for their tireless work on this project. We would also like to thank Dr. Tom Dishion for his interest and support.

FUNDING

This work was funded by National Institute on Drug Abuse grant R01 DA-018851 (Principal Investigator: Stein). The funding agency was not involved in the work reported in the manuscript or in the composition of the submission.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

L. A. R. Stein was responsible for research conception and design, interpretation, and writing; Mary Clair contributed to writing and collection of data; Rosemarie A. Martin was responsible for research conception and design, interpretation, and analysis; Shayna Soenksen contributed to writing, data collection, and interpretation; Rebecca Lebeau provided data collection; Damaris J. Rohsenow assisted with research conception and design, interpretation, and writing; Christopher W. Kahler assisted with revision and interpretation; Warren Hurlbut was instrumental in data collection and research conception and design; and Peter M. Monti assisted with the revision.