An analysis of socialized coping in outcome data of a residential treatment program for boys with behavior problems

Abstract

This study attempts to improve the concept of coping to include socialization, to check its internal validity, and to operationalize the concept by devising a full-range scale to measure Socialized Coping in youths. The evaluation occurred two or more years after residential treatment. Uniformly collected behavioral data from parent(s) were recorded from 306 former residents. From this data, Socialized Coping was rated independently for each boy, with a .91 inter-rated correlation. Oblique factoring of the 15 more objectives items yielded six factors. The Socialized Coping rating correlated strongly with the factors of Social Irresponsibility, Incarceration, and Family Involvement, and was predicted by the first two. In fact, Social Irresponsibility was a better predictor of rated Socialized Coping than was Incarceration, with the two together predicting better yet.