Friday, 14 January 2005 - 2:00 PM

This presentation is part of: Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention

Change Processes in an Adolescent Substance Abuse Intervention Group

Process research evaluates an intervention by systematically identifying and analyzing intervention components vis-à-vis theorized mechanisms of change. This approach holds promise for providing insights as to what interventions work for whom under what conditions. Process research is particularly timely in regard to group interventions with adolescents given recent concerns about possible iatrogenic effects of groups involving youths with conduct problems (Dishion, Poulin, & Burraston, 2001). This study uses a process research approach to understanding mechanisms of change, and possible iatrogenic effects, associated with two groups in a Student Assistance Program (SAP) group counseling intervention provided to adolescent substance abusers. The parent study from which the current study derives was a randomized clinical trial of SAP intervention funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (Wagner, Kortlander, & Leon Morris, 2001; Wagner & Macgowan, in press). The current study utilizes a process research model consisting of five factors (formal change theory, small group processes, structural factors, client, and leader variables) (Burlingame, Mackenzie, & Strauss, 2004) that guided the qualitative-quantitative inquiry. Qualitative examination consisted of the rater listening to all sessions of both groups and ratings along the five domains. In addition, quantitative measures of leadership, interaction, and group climate were applied. Comparisons between the two groups on these instruments were undertaken and the qualitative descriptions augment the interpretability of the findings. This presentation includes preliminary data from the two groups along these five domains to help interpret findings of these groups. This presentation highlights the application of a heuristic model to guide an inquiry into possible explanations for outcomes.

References Burlingame, G. M., Mackenzie, K. R., & Strauss, B. (2004). Small group treatment: Evidence for effectiveness and mechanisms of change. In M. J. Lambert (Ed.), Bergin and Garfield's handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change (5th ed., pp. 647-696). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Dishion, T. J., Poulin, F., & Burraston, B. (2001). Peer group dynamics associated with iatrogenic effects in group interventions with high-risk young adolescents. In D. W. Nangle & C. A. Erdley (Eds.), The role of friendship in psychological adjustment (pp. 79-92). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Wagner, E. F., Kortlander, S. E., & Leon Morris, S. (2001). The Teen Intervention Project. In E. F. Wagner & H. B. Waldron (Eds.), Innovations in adolescent substance abuse intervention (pp. 189-203). Oxford, UK: Elsevier. Wagner, E. F., & Macgowan, M. J. (in press). School-based treatment of adolescent substance abuse problems: Student Assistance Program group counseling. In H. A. Liddle & C. L. Rowe (Eds.), Treating Adolescent Substance Abuse: State of the Science. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

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