Motivational Interviewing effectiveness in promoting protective factors with young offenders

Young offenders are a difficult cohort to engage in intervention (Brendtro, Brokenleg, & Bockern, 1998). Added difficulty points to the challenge of sustaining them in therapy (Raymond, 2003).

Low motivation towards intervention packages (Hemphill & Howell, (2000) in addition to juveniles' distrusts of adults (Miller & Rollnick, 2002) undermines the delivery of intervention and subsequent evaluation of outcomes.

These variables significantly limit the chances of generating and developing protective factors and set up the context for a 6-week Motivational Interviewing (MI) programme.

Mixed model ANOVAs compared an experimental group (n=10) and controls in a waiting list condition (n=11) on outcome measures assessing; behavioural and social functioning, self-esteem, and resilient factors (mastery, relatedness and emotional reactivity). These measures were obtained at pre- post- and 5-months follow-up times.

The prime concern of this research focused on gains relative to the above-quoted protective factors. An unanticipated rate of juvenile engagement in therapy (100%) points to a strong commitment to the MI programme.

Statistically significant improvements helped to accept the experimental hypothesis in relation to behavioural adjustment.

In the rest of the measures, there were not significant values and the null hypothesis is to be accepted.

Across most outcomes, the weighted mean interaction effect size of the intervention (post-treatment and at follow-up time) was classified as small-to-medium interaction effect. Hence, suggesting that gains were attributable to factors related to the intervention.

Overall results from the study relate to research, practice, and intervention with young people in the Youth Justice System. Strengths, limitations and implications for future research are discussed in relation to the findings.

These are dependent on the theoretical, methodological and contextual parameters used in this research.