《Offender engagement in group programs and associations with offender characteristics and treatment factors_ A review》.pdf

Aggression and Violent Behavior 19 (2014) 102–121
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Aggression and Violent Behavior
Offender engagement in group programs and associations with offender
characteristics and treatment factors: A review
Emma Holdsworth ⁎,1, Erica Bowen 1,SarahBrown1, Douglas Howat 1
Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB, United Kingdom
article info abstract
Article history: The aim of this review is to establish how offender engagement within group programs has been conceptualized,
Received 4 July 2013 defined or assessed, and the factors that are associated with it. Existing models describe determinants of engage-
Received in revised form 21 December 2013 ment and the process of behavioral change, but there is little in the way of theory explaining the process of en-
Accepted 9 January 2014
gagement in treatment and change. Forty-seven studies were reviewed and revealed inconsistent definitions and
Available online 31 January 2014
assessments of engagement as well as inconsistent use of measures which contributes to confusion about the
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Keywords: scope of engagement and re ects the lack of theory. Attendance, completion or dropout rates were frequently
Offender relied upon, but may not reliably infer engagement. Participation and out of session behaviors in conjunction
Engagement with one another, reflecting a series of active responses to treatment, may more reliably reflect engagement in
Group treatment and change. A model for offender engagement is presented which might help clarify the role of en-
Treatment gagement variables. Offender demographics appeared to be of little value in predicting engagement, with only
Program a small number of psychosocial factors (hostility, impulsivity) predicting low levels of engagement and most
Change others (anger, anxiety) having little influence. Treatment factors (therapeutic relationship, program objectives)
were more consistently related to engagement, but are