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Ethnic Background, Socioeconomic Status, and Problem Severity as Dropout Risk Factors in Psychotherapy with Youth

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Abstract

Background

Dropout from child and adolescent psychotherapy is a common phenomenon which can have negative consequences for the individual later in life. It is therefore important to gain insight on dropout risk factors.

Objective

Several potential risk factors [ethnic minority status, a lower socioeconomic status (SES), and higher problem severity] were analyzed in present study. Innovations are that these risk factors were examined for children and adolescents separately, and a distinction was made in termination status between referred patients, dropouts and completers.

Methods

For ethnic majority and minority outpatient children (age 5–11, n = 399) and adolescents (age 12–20, n = 352) problem severity, ethnic background, SES, and treatment termination status (completer, dropout, referral) were specified. Multinomial logistic regression models were used as main method of analysis.

Results

For children, a Moroccan/Turkish ethnicity and higher externalizing scores were risk factors for being referred. For adolescents, a Surinamese/Antillean ethnicity, being female, being older, and lower parental SES occupation levels were risk factors for dropout.

Conclusions

Different dropout risk profiles emerged for children versus adolescents, and for dropouts versus referrals. Also, it depended on the specific ethnic background whether ethnic minority status was a predictor for dropout, and the relationship between SES and termination status differed by whether parental SES occupation or parental SES education were used as SES indicator. Professionals should thus be aware of these potential risk factors for dropout or referral when treating children and adolescents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Scientific Research Department, Stichting De Jutters, Youth Mental Health Care Center, The Hague, The Netherlands

    Anna M. de Haan & Albert E. Boon

  2. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Curium-Leiden University Medical Center, Endegeesterstraatweg 27, 2342 AK, Oegstgeest, The Netherlands

    Anna M. de Haan, Albert E. Boon & Robert R. J. M. Vermeiren

  3. Scientific Research Department, De Fjord Lucertis, Center for Orthopsychiatry and Forensic Youth Psychiatry, Capelle aan den IJssel, The Netherlands

    Albert E. Boon

  4. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Robert R. J. M. Vermeiren

  5. Research Institute Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Machteld Hoeve

  6. Amsterdam Institute of Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Joop T. V. M. de Jong

  7. Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    Joop T. V. M. de Jong

  8. Department of Psychology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa

    Joop T. V. M. de Jong

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  1. Anna M. de Haan
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  2. Albert E. Boon
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  4. Machteld Hoeve
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  5. Joop T. V. M. de Jong
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Correspondence to Anna M. de Haan.

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de Haan, A.M., Boon, A.E., Vermeiren, R.R.J.M. et al. Ethnic Background, Socioeconomic Status, and Problem Severity as Dropout Risk Factors in Psychotherapy with Youth. Child Youth Care Forum 44, 1–16 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-014-9266-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-014-9266-x

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