Factors associated with family involvement in a family-centered care program among incarcerated French adolescents with conduct disorder

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-09-2021-0092
• Published date: 15 February 2022
• Date: 15 February 2022
• Pages: 220-229
• Subject Matter: Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Prisoner health,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Public policy & environmental management,Policing,Criminal justice
• Author: Stéphanie Bourion-Bédès,Michael Bisch,Cedric Baumann

Factors associated with family

involvement in a family-centered care

program among incarcerated French

adolescents with conduct disorder

Stéphanie Bourion-Bédès, Michael Bisch and Cedric Baumann

Abstract

Purpose –This study aims to identifythe patient characteristics that may influence familyinvolvement in

a family-centeredcare program during detention.

Design/methodology/approach –Little isknown about the needs of incarceratedadolescents and their

families. This exploratory study used a cross-sectional design to collect data from incarcerated

adolescents with conduct disorder followed in a French outpatient psychiatric department. Logistic

regression models were used to identify the sociodemographic, clinical and family characteristics of

these incarceratedadolescents that could predictfamily involvement in their care.

Findings –Among 44 adolescents with conduct disorder, the probability of family involvement during

the adolescent’sdetention was 9.6 times greater(95% CI 1.2–14.4, p= 0.03) for adolescents with no than

for those with cannabis substance use disorder, and family involvement decreased with the age of the

adolescent(OR = 0.22, 95% CI 0.1–0.9, p= 0.04).

Research limitations/implications –Increased knowledgeof the characteristics of these adolescents

and their families is needed to develop programs that will increase family interventions by specialty

treatmentservices during detention.

Originality/value –No study has yet been publishedon French incarcerated adolescents with conduct

disorder. As conduct disorder is one of the most important mental health disorders among delinquent

adolescents, this study provides knowledge about these adolescents and the need to involve their

parentsin their care to prevent the further escalation of problembehaviors.

Keywords Youth incarceration, Health care, Conduct disorder, Substance use disorder,

Family intervention, Adolescent

Paper type Research paper

Introduction

Conduct disorder is a psychiatric disorder in children and adolescents characterized by a

repetitive and persistent pattern of antisocial behavior; it has an estimated prevalence of

between 1.5% and 3.4% in this age group (Woolfenden et al.,2002). Delinquency is a

sociolegal category applied to children and adolescents who break the law. A history of

conduct problems in childhood is a predictor of future juvenile delinquency (Sheldrick,

1995). Children and adolescents with conduct disorder and delinquency have significant

adverse outcomes that include criminality, school failure and unemployment. Among

juvenile offenders, conduct disorder appears to be one of the most common psychiatric

disorders, with a prevalence ranging from 31% to 77% (Ruchkin et al.,2003;Choi et al.,

2017). Conduct disorder and delinquency have multiple risk factors that are classified as

genetic, biological or environmental. Environmental factors include parental discipline,

Ste

´phanie Bourion-Be

´de

`s

is based at the Centre

Hospitalier de Versailles, Le

Chesnay, France and

EA4360 APEMAC,

University of Lorraine,

Nancy, France.

Michael Bisch is based at

the Centre

Psychotherapique de

Nancy, Laxou, France.

Cedric Baumann is based

at the EA4360 APEMAC,

University of Lorraine,

Nancy, France.

Received 10 September 2021

Revised 21 December 2021

13 January 2022

Accepted 14 January 2022

PAGE 220 jINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRISONER HEALTH jVOL. 19 NO. 2 2023, pp. 220-229, ©EmeraldPublishing Limited, ISSN 1744-9200 DOI 10.1108/IJPH-09-2021-0092