Youth self-efficacy domains as predictors of change in routine community mental health services

Abstract

Objective: This study examined how youth self-efficacy in four domains—Social, Academic Diligence, Academic Proficiency, and Behavioral Regulation—was associated with youth symptoms and psychotherapy outcomes. Method: Participants were 104 youth (aged 12–17, mean age 14.6) and their parents/guardians. Youth completed a measure of perceived self-efficacy and the Youth Outcome Questionnaire–Self-Report (YOQ-SR) regularly over the course of treatment; parents/guardians also completed the Youth Outcome Questionnaire. Results: Although none of the self-efficacy domains significantly predicted changes in parent reports of symptoms, individual growth curve models indicated that increases in three of the four self-efficacy domains (Social, Academic Diligence, and Behavioral Regulation) over the course of treatment were associated with concurrent improvements in youth-reported symptoms. Conclusions: Results suggest that youth self-efficacy warrants further study in relation to change processes in youth mental health services.

Abstract

Objective: This study examined how youth self-efficacy in four domains—Social, Academic Diligence, Academic Proficiency, and Behavioral Regulation—was associated with youth symptoms and psychotherapy outcomes. Method: Participants were 104 youth (aged 12–17, mean age 14.6) and their parents/guardians. Youth completed a measure of perceived self-efficacy and the Youth Outcome Questionnaire–Self-Report (YOQ-SR) regularly over the course of treatment; parents/guardians also completed the Youth Outcome Questionnaire. Results: Although none of the selfefficacy domains significantly predicted changes in parent reports of symptoms, individual growth curve models indicated that increases in three of the four self-efficacy domains (Social, Academic Diligence, and Behavioral Regulation) over the course of treatment were associated with concurrent improvements in youth-reported symptoms. Conclusions: Results suggest that youth self-efficacy warrants further study in relation to change processes in youth mental health services.

Zusammenfassung:

Ziel: Diese Studie untersuchte, wie die Jugendselbstwirksamkeit in vier Domänen – Sozial, Akademischer Fleiß, Akademische Fähigkeit und Verhaltensregulation – assoziiert war, mit Jugendsymptomen und Psychotherapieergebnissen. Methode: Teilnehmer waren N = 104 Jugendliche (Alter: 12-17, Durchschnittsalter: 14.6) und ihre Eltern/Erziehungsberechtigten. Die Jugendlichen absolvierten eine Messung der wahrgenommenen Selbstwirksamkeit und den Jugend-Ergebnis-Selbstbericht-Fragebogen (YOQ-SR) regelmäßig über den Verlauf der Behandlung; Eltern/Erziehungsberechtigte füllten ebenfalls den Jugend-Ergebnis-Selbstbericht-Fragebogen aus. Ergebnisse: Obwohl keine der Selbstwirksamkeitsdomänen signifikant Veränderungen in den Elternberichten der Symptome vorhersagten, zeigten die Wachstumskurvenmodelle einen Anstieg in drei der vier Selbstwirksamkeitsdomänen (Sozial, Akademischer Fleiß, Verhaltensregulation) über den Verlauf der Behandlung bei gleichzeitiger Verbesserung der von den Jugendlichen berichteten Symptomen. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass die Jugendselbstwirksamkeit weitere Studien in Relation zu den Veränderungsprozessen in der psychischen Versorgungsforschung Jugendlicher rechtfertigt.

Objetivo: Este estudo analisou a associação entre a autoeficácia juvenil em quatro domínios – Social, Diligência Académica, Proficiência Académica, e Regulação Comportamental – e os sintomas e resultados psicoterapêuticos nos jovens. Método: Os participantes constaram de 104 jovens (com idades entre 12-17, numa média de 14,6 anos) e os seus pais/encarregados de educação. Os jovens preencheram uma medida de autoeficácia percebida e o Youth Outcome Questionnaire-Self-Report (YOQ-SR), de forma regular, durante o curso do tratamento; os pais/encarregados de educação preencheram também o Youth Outcome Questionnaire. Resultados: Apesar de nenhum dos domínios da autoeficácia predizer significativamente mudanças no relato parental dos sintomas, os modelos de curva de crescimento individuais indicaram que os aumentos em três dos quatro domínios de autoeficácia (Social, Diligência Académica, e Regulação Comportamental), durante o curso do tratamento, estavam associados a melhorias concorrentes com o nível de sintomas relatados pelos jovens. Conclusões: Os resultados sugerem que a autoeficácia juvenil justifica um estudo mais aprofundado relativamente a processos de mudança nos serviços de saúde mental para jovens.

目標：本研究檢視青少年在四個領域（社交、勤勉學習、課業熟練及行為規範）與其症狀及心理治療效果的關聯。方法：有104位青少年（12-17歲，平均年齡：14.6）與其父母／監護人參與。青年在治療期間定期填寫一份自我效能評量及青少年自陳效果問卷(YOQ-SR)，其父母／監護人也填寫青少年效果問卷(YOQ-SR)。結果：雖然没有任何領域的自我效能可以顯著預測父母陳述之症狀改變情形，但個別成長曲線模式顯示，三個領域的自我效能（社交、勤勉學習、及行為規範）在治療過程中隨著青少年自陳症狀的改善而提升了。結論：研究結果建議進一步研究以驗證青少年的自我效能與其心理健康服務的改變過程之關係。

Keywords:

• child psychotherapy
• mental health services research
• outcome research
• process research