Adding Motivation to the Model: The Role of Motivation in Juvenile Drug Court Outcomes

• In Event: Juvenile Justice Intervention Evaluations

Abstract

While there is a sound research base identifying pre-treatment factors associated with successful completion among juveniles in drug court mandated treatment, there is relatively little research examining the effect of motivation on those outcomes. Results from the existing literature that consider motivation are fairly inconsistent and more research is necessary. The present study considers whether the addition of a measure of baseline motivation levels improves the odds of successful completion among juveniles in court mandated treatment, as well as the degree to which motivation moderates other factors relevant to successful treatment completion. Data from 484 youth administered the Texas Christian University Client Evaluation of Self at Intake (CEST) survey upon referral to drug court between 2008 and 2011 were analyzed. Using multivariate logistic regression, and controlling for pre-treatment factors identified in the literature, motivation and its possible moderating effects are tested.

Authors

• Stephanie Duriez, University of Cincinnati

• Christopher Sullivan, University of Cincinnati