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Abstract

The focus of this research was to determine the impact of family stressors on the social development of adolescents at admission to long-term mental health residential care. The study was conducted at the Waco Center for Youth, the only long-term residential care agency serving emotionally and behaviorally challenged adolescents and their families that functions under the authority of the Texas Department of State Health Services. Data was obtained from social assessment forms (N=457) in case records of clients. The prevalence of problem behaviors exhibited by the youth upon entry to the residential facility was examined and it was found that the youth entering the facility were experiencing severe impairment in their social development across several domains. Results indicated that youth with more family stressors exhibited significantly greater impairment in their social development (b = .19, p = .000) which suggests that the combination of multiple stressors within a family inhibits adolescent social development. The research supports a family systems approach to treatment that focuses on building family strengths and actively involving family in the intervention process.

Key Take Away Points

  • Youth entering long-term mental health residential care experienced severe impairment in their social development across several domains.
  • Youth with more family stressors exhibited significantly greater impairment in their social development, suggesting that a combination of multiple stressors within the family inhibits social development.
  • The research supports a family systems approach to adolescent mental health treatment that focuses on building family strengths and actively involving family in the intervention process.

Author Biography

Cynthia Harr, Ph.D., LCSW, is an Assistant Professor at Baylor University School of Social Work. Dr. Harr is a licensed clinical social worker with several years of practice and teaching experience both in the United States and internationally. She has conducted research and published in the areas of family, mental health, compassion fatigue, and interdisciplinary relationships.

Tancy Horn-Johnson, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker who has done clinical practice with adolescents and children for many years. She is presently a Treatment Team Coordinator and Clinical and Research Coordinator of Student Interns at Waco Center for Youth, the only long-term residential care agency serving emotionally and behaviorally challenged adolescents and their families that functions under the authority of the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Nathaniel Williams, LCSW, is a doctoral student at the University of Tennessee, College of Social Work and a research assistant in the University of Tennessee Children's Mental Health Services Research Center.

Lacey De Jager, MSW, has worked and/or interned at Residential Treatment Centers both in South Dakota and Texas. She is employed at Methodist Children’s Home, Waco, Texas, as a unit manager working with children and adolescents.

Acknowledgements

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Cynthia Harr, School of Social Work, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97320, Waco, TX 76798. Email: Cynthia_Harr@baylor.edu.

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