UUnniivveerrssiittyy ooff SSoouutthh FFlloorriiddaa DDiiggiittaall CCoommmmoonnss @@ UUnniivveerrssiittyy ooff SSoouutthh FFlloorriiddaa USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations USF Graduate Theses and Dissertations January 2013 TThhee EEffifficcaaccyy ooff AAggggrreessssiioonn RReeppllaacceemmeenntt TTrraaiinniinngg wwiitthh FFeemmaallee JJuuvveenniillee OOffffeennddeerrss iinn aa RReessiiddeennttiiaall CCoommmmiittmmeenntt PPrrooggrraamm Jody Anne Erickson University of South Florida, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the Social Work Commons SScchhoollaarr CCoommmmoonnss CCiittaattiioonn Erickson, Jody Anne, "The Efficacy of Aggression Replacement Training with Female Juvenile Offenders in a Residential Commitment Program" (2013). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations. https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/4479 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the USF Graduate Theses and Dissertations at Digital Commons @ University of South Florida. It has been accepted for inclusion in USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ University of South Florida. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Efficacy of Aggression Replacement Training® with Female Juvenile Offenders in a Residential Commitment Program by Jody A. Erickson A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Social Work College of Behavioral and Community Sciences University of South Florida Co-Major Professor: Mary I. Armstrong, Ph.D. Co-Major Professor: Lisa A. Rapp, Ph.D. William S. Rowe, DSW Alison A. Salloum, Ph.D. Date of Approval: February 18, 2013 Keywords: anger, girls, group treatment, trauma Copyright © 2013, Jody A. Erickson Acknowledgments I would like to thank my committee members, the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Mark Amendola of Perseus House, Inc., my family, and the curriculum trainer for their guidance, support, and perseverance. Table of Contents List of Tables iv List of Figures v Abstract vi Chapter One: Introduction 1 Gaps in Florida’s System 4 Statement of the Problem 6 Aggression Replacement Training® 7 Research Questions 8 Study Significance 11 Chapter Two: Literature Review 13 Review of Related Aggression Literature 13 Aggression Subtypes 13 Benefits of Adolescent Aggression 15 Theoretical and Practice Literature Regarding Aggression 16 Aggression and Adaptation 16 Aggression and Development 17 Social Learning Theory 17 Review of Related Aggression Replacement Training® Literature 19 Early Studies 19 Later Studies 21 Aggression Replacement Training® with Only Female Participants 23 Review of Literature Involving Aggression and Delinquency as Relating to Gender 25 Gender Differences in the Literature 25 Theoretical Perspectives Relating to Women’s Criminal Behavior 27 The Pathways Perspective 27 Relational Theory 29 Trauma Theory 30 Does Gender Influence “What Works”? 32 Chapter Three: Methods 36 Participants 36 Study Design 36 Approach and Design Rationale 37 Instruments 38 UCLA PTSD Inventory for DSM-IV (Adolescent Version)© 38 The Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist, Teacher Report Form for Ages 6-18 39 Behavior Incident Report 40 i Additional Instruments 41 Procedures 41 Team Member Integrity 41 Participant Protections 42 Initial Responsibilities Regarding Participants 43 Inclusion Criteria 43 Exclusion Criteria 44 Randomization 44 Data Collection: Pre-Tests 45 Treatment Program 46 Skillstreaming 46 Anger Control Training 47 Moral Reasoning Training 47 Data Collection: Treatment Program Follow-Up 49 Treatment Fidelity 49 Chapter Four: Study Results 51 Analysis 51 Treatment Fidelity Assessment 51 Preliminary Data Screening 52 Descriptive Analysis 52 Participants 52 Aggression Tests 54 Research Question One 54 Traumatic Distress Tests 55 Research Question Two 55 Research Question Three 57 Positive Behavior Test 60 Chapter Five: Discussion 62 Findings 62 Limitations 68 Future Research Directions 70 Implications for Social Work Practice 71 Conclusion 71 References 73 Appendices 86 A: Cleare Approval Letter 87 B: Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Approval Letter 88 C: University of South Florida Approval Letter 89 D: University of South Florida Approval Letter, 2010 91 E: University of South Florida Approval Letter, 2011 92 F: University of South Florida Approval Letter, 2012 93 G: Parental Consent 95 ii H: Child Assent 103 I: Behavior Incident Report 108 J: Skillstreaming Skills for Adolescents 109 K: Hassle Log 111 L: Overview of a 10-Week Anger Control Training 112 M: Moral Reasoning Problem Situation 114 N: Tables and Figures 115 iii List of Tables Table 1 Participant and Population Demographics 116 Table 2 Participants’ Diagnoses 118 Table 3 Participants’ Charges 120 Table 4 Participants’ Aggressive and Rule-Breaking Behaviors Outcome Statistics 121 Table 5 Participants’ Mean Changes in Aggressive and Rule-Breaking Behaviors 122 Table 6 Participants’ Outcome Statistics, Controlling for Traumatic Distress 124 Table 7 Experimental Group Members’ Outcome Statistics Based on PTSD Diagnosis 126 Table 8 Participants’ Positive Behaviors Outcome Statistics 127 iv List of Figures Figure 1 Participants’ PTSD Diagnoses 128 v Abstract Female adolescents are increasingly being charged with crimes of violence, and the literature is lacking as to how best to reduce their aggressive tendencies. In the past, girls represented a small portion of all youths involved in criminal justice systems, and studies involving effective treatment options for them were rarely conducted. Aggression Replacement Training® is a 10-week, evidence-based, group treatment intervention designed to advance moral reasoning, improve social skills, and manage angry feelings. Numerous outcome studies of Aggression Replacement Training® with both offending and non-offending male adolescents and with male and female adolescents together have yielded mixed results. The question remains whether or not positive results can be obtained when Aggression Replacement Training® is provided to only female adolescents in a group setting. This quasi-experimental study examined if there were significant decreases in aggressive tendencies and increases in pro-social behaviors among female juvenile offenders in a residential commitment program in the state of Florida who participated in an Aggression Replacement Training® group intervention versus those who did not participate. Due to the exceptionally high degree of exposure to traumatic life events commonly reported by this population, this study also hoped to ascertain whether or not the level of traumatic distress mattered as to the efficacy of the intervention for the girls who participated. The results of repeated measures 2 X 2 (time X group) ANOVA tests indicated no significant mean differences in rule-breaking or aggressive behaviors pre- to posttest between vi the 30 experimental and 30 comparison group members in this quasi-experimental study, although only a large anticipated effect could have been observed with a sample this size. The degree of trauma (covariate), also, had no significant impact on intervention efficacy for those girls who participated in the Aggression Replacement Training® group treatment. Mean negative behaviors were reduced for all study participants during the 12-week study time frame while in the commitment program, however, and both groups exhibited a mean increase in positive behaviors. Additional studies with larger samples may reveal a clearer picture of the benefits this intervention may provide to girls in juvenile justice commitment settings. vii