Correlates of motivation to change in adolescents completing residential substance use treatment

This research identified psychosocial correlates of motivation to change in adolescents being discharged from residential treatment for substance use disorders. Using a naturalistic longitudinal design, adolescents in a residential treatment program in southeast Ohio were assessed at intake and discharge using self-administered questionnaires. Surveys assessed motivation to change one's drug and alcohol use, ways of coping to avoid future alcohol/substance use, and social support. The 68 participants (mean age = 16.0, range = 12–18) were predominantly Caucasian (87%) and male (69%). Over the course of treatment, adolescents reported significant increases in active-cognitive coping, avoidant-behavioral coping, and attachment and marginally significant increases in motivation to change and reliable alliance. Adolescents who reported higher discharge levels of motivation to change also reported greater levels of social integration at discharge. Strengthening adolescents' social integration may also increase their motivation to avoid using drugs and alcohol as they prepare to exit treatment and return to their home communities.