Social Psychiatry, Vol. 46 No. 2, 2018.
Review article
Motivational Interviewing with Children and Adolescents: Developmental Perspective and a Case Report
Vlatka Boričević Maršanić
; Psychiatric Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Zagreb, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, Zagreb, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Medicine, Osijek
Iva Zečević
; Psychiatric Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Zagreb
Ana Kordić
; Psychiatric Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Zagreb
Mia Flander
; Croatian Society for Infant, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Zagreb, Croatia
Ljiljana Karapetrić Bolfan
; Psychiatric Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Zagreb
Ljubica Paradžik
; Psychiatric Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Zagreb
Abstract
Motivational interviewing (MI) is an evidenced-based, client-centered collaborative therapeutic method of enhancing
motivation for change through the resolution of ambivalence. MI was developed in the field of addictions and has grown
into a widely applied behavioural intervention. While it can be a stand-alone intervention, MI may also be used as a
springboard for motivation before starting health treatment or to address dips in motivation throughout treatment. MI
research have primarily centered on the study of adults, with studies of its effectiveness for youth and children focusing
on adolescent and pre-adolescent youth rather than preschool or elementary aged children. The lack of direct study with
young children was due to the requirement for some degree of abstract reasoning to conduct MI. However, recent evidence
shows that it is possible to translate MI theory and practice into childfriendly language which is understandable and
meaningful to younger children. Using MI-based materials specifically aimed at young people and making appropriate
and flexible adaptations to the activities help to enable positive outcomes for the children. The purpose of this paper was
to provide core principles of MI and the current knowledge on its developmental appropriateness and effectiveness for
children and adolescents.
Keywords
Motivational interview; Ambivalence; Behavior change; Children and adolescents
Hrčak ID:
203821
URI
Publication date:
19.7.2018.
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