Treatment Process Predictors of Program Completion or Dropout among Minority Adolescents Enrolled in a Brief Motivational Substance Abuse Intervention

Abstract

This study documents significant differences in alliance in a predominantly Latino sample of adolescents who either completed or dropped out of a Guided Self-Change treatment program. Therapeutic alliance, working alliance, and patient involvement were assessed via ratings of audio-recorded segments of participants’ counseling sessions. Descriptive discriminant function analysis identified working alliance goals, patient participation, and therapist warmth and friendliness variables as significantly predictive of completion status. These results were confirmed via follow-up logistic regression analyses. The use of brief clinical tools to monitor and manage alliance among adolescents receiving treatment who are at risk for dropout is discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• adolescent
• dropout
• minority
• substance abuse
• therapeutic alliance
• treatment

Acknowledgments

Data collection for this study was supported by NIAAA grant R01 AA12180. The preparation of this manuscript was supported in part by NIAAA Grants R01 AA13369, R01 AA14322, and R01 AA13825.

Millie Cordaro is now at Texas State University-San Marcos. This manuscript is based on her doctoral dissertation. An earlier version of this manuscript was presented at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the Society for Social Work Research (SSWR).

Notes

Note. *p < .05. **p < .001.

Note. (T) = Therapist, (C) = Client.

Note. (T) = Therapist, (C) = Client.