NCJ Number
205764
Journal
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 43 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2004 Pages: 669-676
Date Published
June 2004
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article describes the development and initial evaluation of the Coping Course, a cognitive-behavioral group intervention designed to enhance general coping and problem-solving skills among incarcerated youth.
Abstract
The Coping Course is a modification of the Adolescent Coping With Depression course (CWD-A). Sixteen treatment sessions are conducted over an 8-week period in a classroom setting, with group leaders teaching adolescents a variety of skills (e.g., social skills, relaxation, cognitive restructuring, communication, and problem-solving) to help them control their depressed mood. The control group received the usual treatment on the unit, which varied across the three units but included the following: drug/alcohol groups, sex offender groups, the development of critical-thinking skills, and writing assignments. Data collection for the evaluation was done between 2001 and 2002. A total of 76 participants from the Oak Creek Youth Correctional Facility in Oregon participated in the study. The Coping Course was composed of 46 participants, and 30 participated in usual care. A second correctional facility provided an additional source of control group data (n=62). Participants were administered a questionnaire both before and after participation in the intervention. The evaluation found a significant condition x time effects for seven of the examined measures: Youth Self-Report externalizing scores, three measures from the Life Attitudes Scale, self-esteem, one measure of social adjustment, and cognitive-behavioral therapy knowledge. Age and race/ethnicity did not moderate effects. Comparing control group participants with youth at a separate correctional facility who did not receive the Coping Course indicated that change was uniquely associated with participation in the intervention. These preliminary findings are promising and provide evidence for future research on cognitive-behavioral group treatments with incarcerated youth. 1 table and 28 references