Relationship Between Detention Length, Living Group Climate, Coping, and Treatment Motivation Among Juvenile Delinquents in a Youth Correctional Facility

• NCJ Number: 247669
• Journal: Prison Journal Volume: 94 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2014 Pages: 260-275
• Author(s): Peer van der Helm; Lotte Beunk; Geert-Jan Stams; Peter van der Laan
• Date Published: June 2014
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the relationship between detention length, living group climate, coping, and treatment motivation among 59 juvenile delinquents in a Dutch youth correctional facility.

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between detention length, living group climate, coping, and treatment motivation among 59 juvenile delinquents in a Dutch youth correctional facility. Longer detention was associated with the perception of a more open living group climate, but proved to be unrelated to coping and treatment motivation. A repressive group climate was positively associated with passive coping. A more open group climate was associated with both more active coping and greater treatment motivation. Finally, analyses showed that the relation between open group climate and treatment motivation was mediated by active coping. Thus, creating an open group climate to foster active coping and greater treatment motivation is probably one of the most important challenges for youth correctional facilities. Abstract published by arrangement with Sage.