The Relationship Between Program Restrictiveness and Youth Behavior Problems

• Published in: Journal of emotional and behavioral disorders Vol. 6; no. 3; pp. 170 - 179
• Main Authors: Handwerk, Michael L., Friman, Patrick C., Mott, Mariam A., Stairs, Jayne M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-10-1998; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adolescents; Behavior Disorders; Behavior Problems; Behavior Rating Scales; Behavioural problems; Check Lists; Child Behavior; Childhood Needs; Children; Delivery Systems; Factors; Family (Sociological Unit); Federal Legislation; Foster Care; Group Homes; Health Needs; Health Programs; Health Services; Intervention; Mental Health Programs; Parents; Preservation; Program Effectiveness; Programmes; Psychiatric Hospitals; Residential Care; Residential Programs; Restrictions; Severity (of Disability); Student Characteristics; Student Placement
• ISSN: 1063-4266; 1538-4799
• DOI: 10.1177/106342669800600305

A key concept in the continuum-of-care model is matching the restrictiveness of treatment to the level of youth behavior problems. Restrictiveness refers to the degree that treatment and setting constrains choices and limits freedoms of patients. Only a few investigators have examined this relationship, and the findings have been equivocal. Extending our initial study of the relationship between youth behavior problems and program restrictiveness, we examined the relationship across seven programs spanning the continuum of care: parent training program, outpatient clinic, family preservation program, treatment foster care, residential group home, acute-care shelter, and inpatient psychiatric hospital. Results indicated a high level of correspondence between restrictiveness and youth behavior problems, with the least restrictive programs serving children with fewer behavior problems and highly restrictive programs serving children with more behavior problems.