TY - JOUR

T1 - Evaluating a social problem solving intervention for juvenile detainees

T2 - Depressive outcomes and moderators of effectiveness

AU - Haeffel, Gerald J.

AU - Hein, Sascha

AU - Square, Amanda

AU - Macomber, Donna

AU - Lee, Maria

AU - Chapman, John

AU - Grigorenko, Elena L.

PY - 2017/8/1

Y1 - 2017/8/1

N2 - This study reports findings from the administration of a social problem-solving training (SPST) intervention to juvenile detainees in the Connecticut Youth Detainee Program. SPST is a cognitive behavioral intervention that teaches children and youth how to more effectively cope with interpersonal stress and conflict. In the current study, we tested whether SPST could decrease depressive symptoms in a sample of detained adolescent offenders. The study used a randomized-control design with detention staff administering the intervention. The results showed that SPST, as a main effect, was not more effective in reducing depressive symptoms than treatment as usual. However, the effectiveness of SPST was moderated by fluid intelligence. Juvenile detainees with high intelligence scores were most likely to benefit from SPST compared to treatment as usual. It was surprising that, for those with lower intelligence scores, SPST increased depressive symptoms relative to treatment as usual. These results help fill a critical need for intervention effectiveness data on juvenile detainees and indicate that SPST may not be useful for reducing outcomes such as depression.

AB - This study reports findings from the administration of a social problem-solving training (SPST) intervention to juvenile detainees in the Connecticut Youth Detainee Program. SPST is a cognitive behavioral intervention that teaches children and youth how to more effectively cope with interpersonal stress and conflict. In the current study, we tested whether SPST could decrease depressive symptoms in a sample of detained adolescent offenders. The study used a randomized-control design with detention staff administering the intervention. The results showed that SPST, as a main effect, was not more effective in reducing depressive symptoms than treatment as usual. However, the effectiveness of SPST was moderated by fluid intelligence. Juvenile detainees with high intelligence scores were most likely to benefit from SPST compared to treatment as usual. It was surprising that, for those with lower intelligence scores, SPST increased depressive symptoms relative to treatment as usual. These results help fill a critical need for intervention effectiveness data on juvenile detainees and indicate that SPST may not be useful for reducing outcomes such as depression.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84992135646&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1017/S0954579416001000

DO - 10.1017/S0954579416001000

M3 - Article

C2 - 27758729

AN - SCOPUS:84992135646

VL - 29

SP - 1035

EP - 1042

JO - Development and Psychopathology

JF - Development and Psychopathology

SN - 0954-5794

IS - 3

ER -