Stress Responses of Adolescents in Residential Treatment: A Research Note

ABSTRACT

This study examined the relationship between (a) the modes of responding to peer stress used by 54 adolescents in residential treatment and (b) dimensions of psychopathology. The Responses to Stress Questionnaire was used to assess modes of responding to stress, and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; completed by each youth's cottage counselor) and the Youth Self-Report version of the CBCL were utilized to assess behavior problems. Extensive use of involuntary engagement (in particular), involuntary disengagement, and effortful disengagement was related to greater psychopathology. Surprisingly, effortful engagement also was associated with higher levels of psychopathology, although more weakly than the other three response modes. Implications for research and intervention with adolescent clinical populations are considered.

KEYWORDS:

• Residential treatment
• adolescent treatment
• Child Behavior Checklist
• peer stress
• group relatedness