Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.31299/ksi.30.1.6
Analyses of manifested behavioral problems of children and youth in institutional treatment in Residential Care Institution for Children and Youth Karlovac
Duško Dragojević
; Dom za odgoj djece i mladeži Karlovac
Duško Jaković
orcid.org/0000-0001-8553-0278
; Dom za odgoj djece i mladeži Karlovac
Abstract
This paper attempts to demonstrate frequencies of behavioral problems in the population of male and female users staying in the Residential Care Institution for Children and Youth Karlovac in the period from 2013 to 2020. The aim was to identify the most prevalent forms of behavioral problems in this population and to see whether there is a difference in the frequency of manifested behavioral problems of children and youth in the period 2017-2020 compared to the previous four year period, 2013-2016. In addition, we wanted to determine whether there is a difference in the frequency of manifested behavioral problems between male and female users and whether this difference is constant in both periods.
Over a period of eight years, the frequencies of behavioral problems were grouped into nine phenomenal forms and recorded by social educators. It is shown that the results in two forms of manifested behavioral problems – alcohol consumption and vagrancy/escape from the institution in the period 2017-2020 were significantly lower compared to 2013-2016, while in the other seven forms of manifested behavioral problems there were no significant differences. Only in terms of peer aggression, the result is higher in the more recent period, but not significantly compared to the previous period. It was also found that in seven forms of manifested behavioral problems, there were no significant differences between male and female users. In two forms of manifested behavioral problems – damaging physical property/equipment and alcohol consumption, male users had significantly higher results compared to female users. In three forms of manifested behavioral problems – suicidal and auto aggressive behaviors, risky sexual behaviors, and vagrancy/escape from the institution, female users showed higher results (although not statistically significant) compared to male users. It has also been shown that the frequencies of manifested behavioral problems between users are not constant in both periods of time and that gender differences are significantly lower.
In conclusion, it is indicated that the planning of institutional treatment for users with behavioral problems should be adapted to their individual characteristics and needs, paying attention to generational characteristics and gender factors. A comprehensive assessment of behavioral problems manifested by children and youth in residential care shows the need for frequent modification of treatment and expanding the spectrum of interventions.
Keywords
behavioral problems; institutional care; individual treatment plan
Hrčak ID:
279863
URI
Publication date:
29.6.2022.
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