NCJ Number
100675
Journal
Journal of Adolescence Volume: 8 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1985) Pages: 243-254
Date Published
1985
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Staff in three juvenile residential units in the United Kingdom completed a 25-item, behavior-problem questionnaire to test three hypotheses regarding the severity of resident problem behaviors and staff perceptions of such behavior.
Abstract
One unit is a secure juvenile treatment center that admits juveniles of both sexes, aged between 12 and 18, two-thirds of whom have committed offenses or are in need of care. The rest have committed serious crimes. The second unit is a psychiatric facility that admits juveniles with a variety of problems. The third unit is the secure wing of a school that admits delinquents and juveniles needing care and protection. Three hypotheses were tested: (1) the severity of problem behavior is directly proportional to the anxiety it arouses in staff, (2) staff perceptions of problem behavior are influenced by the unit's philosophy and staff training, and (3) the types of juveniles admitted to a unit influence staff perceptions of the problem behavior. The questionnaire was derived from the Connors Teacher Rating Questionnaire to present a list of 25 common behavioral and emotional problems of adolescents. The findings validate the three hypotheses. Tabular data and 6 references.