Adolescent Sex Offenders' Rankings of Therapeutic Factors Using the Yalom Card Sort

Abstract

ABSTRACT Following 11–98 weeks of inpatient residential treatment, 69 male adolescent sex offenders completed the 60-item, 12-factor Yalom Card Sort. The rank orders were compared to adult sex offenders and a psychiatric adult outpatient group. Relative to adult psychiatric outpatients, the adolescent sex offenders had rated Instillation of Hope three ranks higher; Family Reenactment, four ranks higher; and Interpersonal Learning (input), eight ranks lower. In comparison to adult sex offenders, both Instillation of Hope and Universality were rated three ranks higher, and Interpersonal Learning (input) was rated four ranks lower. Rankings were correlated with age and treatment length. As age increased, the ranking of Family Reenactment decreased and as treatment length increased so did the importance of Group Cohesiveness. Implications for adolescent sex offender treatment are discussed.