Changes in Late Adolescents and Young Adults’ Attachment, Separation, and Mental Health During Wilderness Therapy

Young Adults in Residential and Outdoor Behavioral Health Programs: Prelimniary Outcomes from the Practice Research Network of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs

“…The finding that young adults in RTC programs have high rates of substance abuse problems suggests that such programs are uniquely positioned to address substance abuse issues. This finding is consistent with other studies of young adults' presenting problems (Bettmann et al, 2016;Hoag et al, 2013;Roberts et al, 2016) which likewise found high rates of substance abuse problems in their samples of young adults. Few studies have explored substance abuse outcomes in young adult OBH and RTC programs; this is an area that needs to be further researched for this population.…”

“…Though there is a significant reduction in problems with interpersonal relationships and social roles in both program types during treatment, the change in those areas, while placing young adults in the normal range, did not meet the required threshold to be considered clinically significant (Lambert et al, 2004). This finding is comparable to other young adult studies conducted at OBH programs (Bettmann et al, 2016;Roberts et al, 2017). Roberts and colleagues (2017) …”

“…Recently, young adult RTC and OBH have received research attention (Bettmann et al, 2016;Hoag, Massey, Roberts, & Logan, 2013;Roberts et al, 2016;Roberts, Stroud, Hoag, & Massey, 2017;Russell, Gillis, & Heppner, 2016;Treadway, 2017). Preliminary research with young adults in RTC and OBH programs suggests that the findings are similar to those of adolescents in RTC and OBH programs (Hoag et al, 2013;Roberts et al, 2016;Roberts et al, 2017;Russell et al, 2016;Treadway, 2017).…”

“…Compared to symptom distress, social roles and interpersonal relationships are complex constructs that are dependent upon interpersonal changes that may not be as amenable to change during RTC or OBH treatment. That said, some studies have found that improvements in close interpersonal relationships, such as those with parents and romantic partners, are positively correlated and contemporaneous with improvements in mental health symptoms (Bettmann et al, 2016;Frey, Beesley, & Miller, 2006;Lapsley & Edgerton, 2002;Mallinckrodt & Wei, 2005). The connections among young adults' symptomatic, social role, and relationship changes, while in OBH and RTC programs, needs to be clarified in future research.…”

“…The adolescent OBH and RTC research suggests that adolescents and/or their parents report significant improvement from the point of admission to the point of discharge for emotional, behavioral, academic, family, and substance abuse problems in RTC and OBH programs (Behrens, 2006;Behrens, 2011;Behrens, Santa, & Gass, 2010;Behrens & Satterfield, 2007;Bettmann, Tucker, Behrens, & Vanderloo, 2016;Russell, Gillis, & Lewis, 2008;Tucker, Norton, DeMille, & Hobson, 2016a;Tucker, Paul, Hobson, Karoff, & Gass, 2016b). Furthermore, the research suggests that adolescents maintain gains up to one year post-discharge (Behrens, 2011;Tucker et al, 2016a;Tucker, Smith, & Gass, 2014;Tucker, Zelov, & Young, 2011;Zelov, Tucker, & Javorski, 2013).…”