Peer van der Helm

Measuring Group Climate in Prison

The present study examines the construct validity and reliability of the Prison Group Climate Instrument (PGCI) in a sample of 77 adolescents placed in a Dutch youth prison and 49 adult prisoners living in a Dutch psychiatric prison with a therapeutic living group structure. Confirmatory factor analysis of a four-factor model—with “repression,” “support,” “growth,” and “group atmosphere” as first-order factors—and “overall group climate” as a second-order factor shows an adequate fit to the data, indicating construct validity of the PGCI. Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients are good for all factors. The PGCI is a parsimonious instrument, enabling future research on group climate in youth prisons and secure forensic psychiatric institutions. The instrument can be used as an assessment tool for judicial interventions that use group climate to improve outcomes in delinquent youth and adult delinquents receiving treatment for psychiatric problems.

The Relation Between Living Group Climate, Aggression, and Callous-Unemotional Traits in Delinquent Boys in Detention

Aggression and callous-unemotional (CU) traits are common problems in incarcerated delinquent youth. The present study was conducted to examine whether living group climate was associated with aggression and CU traits in late adolescent male offenders (N = 156) in a German youth prison. A structural equation model was fitted to the data and showed associations between repression and reactive aggression and CU traits, but no associations between an open and supportive living group climate and aggression and CU traits. Previous research in Dutch youth prisons did not find a relation between repression and aggression, buta relation between a positive living group climate and less aggression. These different findings may reflect differences in the German and Dutch prison system. Implications for practice are discussed.

Measuring Therapeutic Alliance With Children in Residential Treatment and Therapeutic Day Care: A Validation Study of the Children’s Alliance Questionnaire

Purpose: This study examined the construct validity and reliability of a therapeutic alliance measure (Children’s Alliance Questionnaire [CAQ]) for children with psychosocial and/or behavioral problems, receiving therapeutic residential care or day care in the Netherlands. Methods: Confirmatory factor analysis of a one-factor model “therapeutic alliance” was conducted on two samples of 115 and 116 children, aged 4–14 years. Reliability analysis and concurrent validity were examined. Results: Results showed a good fit to the data, indicating construct validity of the measures. Cronbach’s α reliability coefficients were good for both alliance measures. Concurrent validity was supported by significant relations between the alliance scale and positive group climate (Group Climate Instrument for Children [GCIC]) and treatment motivation (Adolescent Treatment Motivation Questionnaire). No correlations with negative group climate (GCIC) were found. Discussion: The CAQ can be used as an assessment tool for therapeutic alliance within both residential treatment and therapeutic day care settings for children.

Aggressive Incidents in Residential Youth Care

It is assumed that group climate can have an effect on aggressive behavior in adolescents living in residential facilities, but it is largely unknown whether there are climate differences between the various types of residential institutions, and whether group climate differently affects aggression incidents among adolescents placed in institutions that differ in levels of security (and openness). In current research, the differences in perception of group climate between open, semi-secure, and secure residential youth care facilities were examined as well as the association between group climate and aggression. In total, 159 adolescents (96 males, 63 females) completed the Prison Group Climate Instrument (PGCI), and (aggressive) incidents were recorded during a period of 3 months. Perception of group climate—including support from staff, group atmosphere among adolescents, possibilities for growth, and repression—did not differ between the various types of residential care, except for possibilities for growth. Adolescents in open and semi-secure institutions experienced more possibilities for growth than their peers in secure institutions. A more positive perception of group climate in open institutions proved to be related to less aggressive incidents at the living group. For semi-secure and secure institutions, no relation between group climate and aggression was found. Also, the longer adolescents stayed in residential youth care, the more aggressive incidents occurred.

The Relation Between Aggression and the Living Group Climate in a Forensic Treatment Unit for Adolescents: A Pilot Study

In the current study, the associations between inpatient aggression and the living group climate as perceived by the adolescents admitted to a forensic psychiatric treatment unit, are investigated based on carefully registered longitudinal data. Multilevel regression analyses revealed a significant inverse relation between the number and severity of aggressive incidents and the amount of support, as well as with the possibilities of growth perceived by the adolescents. No significant associations of aggression and the perception of repression or atmosphere are found. Our study reveals preliminary evidence for the relation between the prevalence of aggressive incidents and how the adolescents perceive social contextual factors in daily forensic treatment practices. Moreover, preliminary evidence that evidence-based treatment programs and psychiatric care have an important influence on experienced possibilities for growth and support and as such prevent institutional aggression, is found.

Evaluation der Gruppenklima-Forschung in Deutschland (am Beispiel NRW) und den Niederlanden auf der Grundlage eines Vergleichs der verschiedenen Behandlungsmöglichkeiten in den jeweiligen Jugendstrafvollzugssystemen

Die Forschung zum Thema Gruppenklima im Wohngruppenvollzug in Jugendstrafvollzugsanstalten bekommt in den Niederlanden und Deutschland, aber auch zum Beispiel in England, Belgien und Estland eine immer grosere Bedeutung. In der aktuellen Forschung zeigen sich Unterschiede zwischen den in den Niederlanden erhobenen Daten und den deutschen Ergebnissen am Beispiel zweier Anstalten in NRW. Um positive Schlusse fur den Umgang mit jugendlichen Straftatern ziehen zu konnen, ist es von groser Bedeutung herauszufinden, ob und inwiefern sich diese gefundenen Unterschiede im Gruppenklima auf die Unterschiede in den jeweiligen Strafvollzugssystemen zuruckfuhren lassen konnen. Im folgenden Bericht wurden die wichtigsten Aspekte der Behandlung in Jugendstrafvollzugsanstalten in den Niederlanden mit denen in NRW verglichen und im weiteren Verlauf in Zusammenhang mit den Unterschieden in Bezug auf die erhobenen Daten gebracht und analysiert. Bei drei von vier Aspekten konnen die Unterschiede der Erhebungen auf Eigenschaften des Strafvollzuges zuruckgefuhrt werden, und der Umgang mit den Gefangenen spiegelt sich in den Ergebnissen zu erfahrener Unterstutzung, Wachstum und Atmosphare wider

Understanding how coping strategies and quality of life maintain hope in patients deliberating phase I trial participation

This study aimed to understand how hope and motivation of patients considering phase I trial participation are affected by psychological factors such as coping strategies and locus of control (LoC) and general well‐being as measured by the quality of life (QoL).

Treatment Motivation and Living Group Climate in German Youth Prison: A Validation of the German Adolescent Treatment Motivation Questionnaire

ABSTRACT Treatment motivation is one of the basic requirements for successful treatment and rehabilitation in youth detention. Treatment motivation is often presumed, but rarely assessed, because there is a lack of reliable and valid measurement instruments to investigate treatment motivation in detained youth, especially in Germany. The Adolescent Treatment Motivation Questionnaire (ATMQ) provides insight into the treatment motivation of young prisoners. The present study examined the construct validity and reliability of the German ATMQ in a sample of 76 German delinquents. A confirmatory factor analysis showed a good fit to the data, indicating construct validity. Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients were good. Concurrent validity was supported by significant relations between treatment motivation and living group climate. The German ATMQ (8 items) can be used to assess treatment motivation in judicial and forensic psychiatric care in order to improve treatment motivation.

Ward Climate in a High-Secure Forensic Psychiatric Setting: Comparing Two Instruments

Abstract The psychometric properties and associations between the Essen Climate Evaluation Schema (EssenCES) and the Group Climate Instrument-revised (GCI-r) were examined. These self-report questionnaires assessing ward climate were filled out by 123 male patients, residing in 3 high-secure forensic psychiatric facilities. Good internal consistency was found for all subscales of both instruments. The original factor structure was confirmed for the EssenCES, but not for the GCI-r. Bivariate correlation analyses indicated that the instruments measure related concepts. The results of this study call for further development and validation and for finding common grounds in the definition and operationalization of ward climate.

Adverse Childhood Experiences in Children with Intellectual Disabilities: An Exploratory Case-File Study in Dutch Residential Care

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are negative childhood events occurring in a child’s family or social environment, that may cause harm or distress. Children with intellectual disabilities (ID) and their families are underrepresented in international ACEs research, while current insights can also contribute to the improvement of their health and well-being. Deficiencies in intellectual and adaptive functioning and living circumstances can increase their vulnerability to adversities. In the present exploratory study 69 case-files of children referred to a Dutch national center for residential youth care for children with ID were analyzed to assess the prevalence and associations of ACEs. It was found that almost half (49.3%) of the children experienced 2 ACEs from the original ACEs framework or more (M (mean) = 2.1; SD (standard deviation) = 1.8) and that the number of ACEs in children was related to the presence of ACEs in parents. Both child and parental ACEs were also related to attachment- and trauma- and stressor-related disorders. Finally, living circumstances and multiple ACEs from the expanded ACEs framework, especially related to parental characteristics, were found to be related to ACEs in children with ID. This implicates the importance of a transgenerational approach when further investigating the impact of ACEs on mental and physical health in children with ID (intellectual disabilities).