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THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INVENTORY OF ADOLESCENT WELL-BEING: A FOLLOW-UP STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALIZATION ON ADOLESCENTS
Abstract
This study was designed to advance a body of knowledge concerned with the impact of psychiatric hospitalization on adolescents. According to the literature, little systematic research has been conducted and the research that has been completed has been narrow in scope and fraught with methodological weaknesses. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of hospitalization on adolescents using comparison groups, large sample sizes, multivariate statistical procedures, and multiple methods of assessment. The sample population consisted of 544 adolescents who comprised four comparison groups of "normals," adjudicated delinquents, psychiatric patients, and a follow-up group of discharged psychiatric patients. Assessment instruments included the author-developed Inventory of Adolescent Well-Being, the General Well-Being Schedule, and the Current Adjustment Rating Scale. Further, data regarding differences by sex, number of signs of family disturbance, and the effects of outpatient psychotherapy services following discharge were interpreted. Discriminant Analyses indicated that the Inventory of Adolescent Well-Being correctly classified 71% of the adolescents into the four groups. The General Well-Being Schedule classified with 49% accuracy and the Current Adjustment Rating Scale with 46% accuracy. Additional analyses revealed the following findings: A follow-up group of former psychiatric patients, living home, most closely resembled the "normals" with 86.8% of those adolescents reporting improvement in their general well-being. Uniform sex differences were found among the four groups with boys consistently reporting higher levels of well-being than girls. No statistical difference was found between former patients residing home who received outpatient services and those not receiving services. Finally, no significant differences were found with regard to the number of signs of family disruption when former patients residing home and former patients discharged to other placements were compared. A discussion is included which articulates the implications found between the "normals" and hospitalized adolescents; between the hospitalized sample and adjudicated delinquents; and pertaining to the improvement level noted in the former patients. The development of the Inventory of Adolescent Well-Being meets a need for follow-up measures developed specifically for adolescents. These results and their implications are further discussed.
Subject Area
Educational psychology|Psychotherapy
Recommended Citation
CRESPI, TONY D, "THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INVENTORY OF ADOLESCENT WELL-BEING: A FOLLOW-UP STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALIZATION ON ADOLESCENTS" (1985). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI8517092.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI8517092