Offender engagement in group programs and associations with offender characteristics and treatment factors: A review

Emma Holdsworth; Erica Bowen; Sarah J. Brown; Douglas Howat

doi:10.1016/j.avb.2014.01.004

Offender engagement in group programs and associations with offender characteristics and treatment factors: A review

Emma Holdsworth, Erica Bowen, Sarah J. Brown, Douglas Howat

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38 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

The aim of this review is to establish how offender engagement within group programs has been conceptualized, defined or assessed, and the factors that are associated with it. Existing models describe determinants of engagement and the process of behavioral change, but there is little in the way of theory explaining the process of engagement in treatment and change. Forty-seven studies were reviewed and revealed inconsistent definitions and assessments of engagement as well as inconsistent use of measures which contributes to confusion about the scope of engagement and reflects the lack of theory. Attendance, completion or dropout rates were frequently relied upon, but may not reliably infer engagement. Participation and out of session behaviors in conjunction with one another, reflecting a series of active responses to treatment, may more reliably reflect engagement in treatment and change. A model for offender engagement is presented which might help clarify the role of engagement variables. Offender demographics appeared to be of little value in predicting engagement, with only a small number of psychosocial factors (hostility, impulsivity) predicting low levels of engagement and most others (anger, anxiety) having little influence. Treatment factors (therapeutic relationship, program objectives) were more consistently related to engagement, but are under-researched.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	102–121
Number of pages	20
Journal	Aggression and Violent Behavior
Volume	19
Issue number	2
Early online date	30 Jan 2014
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2014.01.004
Publication status	Published - 2014

Bibliographical note

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Aggression and Violent Behavior. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Aggression and Violent Behavior [Vol 19, Issue 2 (2014), DOI: 10.1016/j.avb.2014.01.004.

Keywords

Offender
Engagement
Group
Treatment
Program
Change

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10.1016/j.avb.2014.01.004

Post-PrintAccepted author manuscript, 381 KB

Emma Holdsworth
- School of Life Sciences - Associate Head of School - Quality and Accreditation (PSBS)
Person: Teaching and Research

Cite this

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title = "Offender engagement in group programs and associations with offender characteristics and treatment factors: A review",

abstract = "The aim of this review is to establish how offender engagement within group programs has been conceptualized, defined or assessed, and the factors that are associated with it. Existing models describe determinants of engagement and the process of behavioral change, but there is little in the way of theory explaining the process of engagement in treatment and change. Forty-seven studies were reviewed and revealed inconsistent definitions and assessments of engagement as well as inconsistent use of measures which contributes to confusion about the scope of engagement and reflects the lack of theory. Attendance, completion or dropout rates were frequently relied upon, but may not reliably infer engagement. Participation and out of session behaviors in conjunction with one another, reflecting a series of active responses to treatment, may more reliably reflect engagement in treatment and change. A model for offender engagement is presented which might help clarify the role of engagement variables. Offender demographics appeared to be of little value in predicting engagement, with only a small number of psychosocial factors (hostility, impulsivity) predicting low levels of engagement and most others (anger, anxiety) having little influence. Treatment factors (therapeutic relationship, program objectives) were more consistently related to engagement, but are under-researched. ",

keywords = "Offender, Engagement, Group, Treatment, Program, Change",

author = "Emma Holdsworth and Erica Bowen and Brown, {Sarah J.} and Douglas Howat",

note = "NOTICE: this is the author{\textquoteright}s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Aggression and Violent Behavior. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Aggression and Violent Behavior [Vol 19, Issue 2 (2014), DOI: 10.1016/j.avb.2014.01.004.",

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AU - Bowen, Erica

AU - Brown, Sarah J.

AU - Howat, Douglas

N1 - NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Aggression and Violent Behavior. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Aggression and Violent Behavior [Vol 19, Issue 2 (2014), DOI: 10.1016/j.avb.2014.01.004.

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - The aim of this review is to establish how offender engagement within group programs has been conceptualized, defined or assessed, and the factors that are associated with it. Existing models describe determinants of engagement and the process of behavioral change, but there is little in the way of theory explaining the process of engagement in treatment and change. Forty-seven studies were reviewed and revealed inconsistent definitions and assessments of engagement as well as inconsistent use of measures which contributes to confusion about the scope of engagement and reflects the lack of theory. Attendance, completion or dropout rates were frequently relied upon, but may not reliably infer engagement. Participation and out of session behaviors in conjunction with one another, reflecting a series of active responses to treatment, may more reliably reflect engagement in treatment and change. A model for offender engagement is presented which might help clarify the role of engagement variables. Offender demographics appeared to be of little value in predicting engagement, with only a small number of psychosocial factors (hostility, impulsivity) predicting low levels of engagement and most others (anger, anxiety) having little influence. Treatment factors (therapeutic relationship, program objectives) were more consistently related to engagement, but are under-researched.

AB - The aim of this review is to establish how offender engagement within group programs has been conceptualized, defined or assessed, and the factors that are associated with it. Existing models describe determinants of engagement and the process of behavioral change, but there is little in the way of theory explaining the process of engagement in treatment and change. Forty-seven studies were reviewed and revealed inconsistent definitions and assessments of engagement as well as inconsistent use of measures which contributes to confusion about the scope of engagement and reflects the lack of theory. Attendance, completion or dropout rates were frequently relied upon, but may not reliably infer engagement. Participation and out of session behaviors in conjunction with one another, reflecting a series of active responses to treatment, may more reliably reflect engagement in treatment and change. A model for offender engagement is presented which might help clarify the role of engagement variables. Offender demographics appeared to be of little value in predicting engagement, with only a small number of psychosocial factors (hostility, impulsivity) predicting low levels of engagement and most others (anger, anxiety) having little influence. Treatment factors (therapeutic relationship, program objectives) were more consistently related to engagement, but are under-researched.

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KW - Engagement

KW - Group

KW - Treatment

KW - Program

KW - Change

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DO - 10.1016/j.avb.2014.01.004

M3 - Article

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JO - Aggression and Violent Behavior

JF - Aggression and Violent Behavior

SN - 1359-1789

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ER -

Offender engagement in group programs and associations with offender characteristics and treatment factors: A review

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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Emma Holdsworth

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