Relational Health in Transitions: Female Adolescents in Chemical Dependency Treatment

ABSTRACT

Background: Adolescent substance use (SU) remains a serious problem. Inpatient, primary care, and self-treatment models for chemical dependency (CD) yield varying degrees of success impacting the sequelae of chronic or episodic SU. Relational engagement among adolescent substance users is a long known influential factor in the development, maintenance and transformation of addictive behaviors. Objectives: Following tenets of Relational-Cultural Theory and using the Relational Health Indices for Youth (RHI-Y), a validated survey tool for adolescents, we sought to measure relational health (RH) during times of transitions during CD treatment. This article addresses use of the tool and its potential for improving addictions research and practice. Methods: During 2015–2017 we explored differences in RH scores in adolescent girls entering inpatient CD treatment at three points: 51 at admission, 39 at discharge, and 13 at 3 months post-discharge. Data were analyzed using a generalized linear mixed model to compare changes in domain scores of RH. Results: Changes in RH scores were significant in the friend domain, but not the mentor and community domains. The RHI-Y shows promise in discerning RH change during transitions in CD treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescents
• chemical dependency
• relational health
• inpatient
• addictions treatment

Acknowledgments

We appreciate the contributions of colleagues Merry Armstrong Fougere and Kris Miller for their initial work exploring RH in this population and for the generosity of the young women who shared their time and energy providing the data for this inquiry.

Declaration of interest/funding

We are grateful to have received funding from the Foundation for Addictions Nursing and for the support provided by the International Nurses Society on Addictions as a venue for disseminating this developing work at national conferences.