Untangling the Alliance-Outcome Correlation: Exploring the Relative Effect of Age and Gender in Treatment of Adolescence Substance Abuser

Abstract

Although the relationship between the therapeutic alliance and outcome has long been established across numerous studies and meta-analyses, less is known about this in treatment of adolescence substance abuse. This study investigates factors that influence alliance-outcome relationship in adolescence substance abuse treatment. To achieve this objective, this study explored the relative effect of demographic variables, i.e. (age and gender) in a sample of adolescent substance abuser at the rehabilitation treatment centre of University college hospital, (UCH) Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria. Fifty-three adolescents took part in this study, and completed self-report measures of readiness and expectation (client’s theory of change) prior to treatment, therapeutic alliance measures during treatment. The findings indicates that, age do not predict alliance-outcome relationship in adolescence substance abuse treatment, as there was no moderating effect for client’s age. In addition, the finding showed a significant sex difference in pre-treatment motivational variables, client ratings of the alliance and treatment outcome. Finally, it was suggested that early identification of demographic variables that influence adolescent’s treatment; as adolescent’s attributions of resistance are associated with age and gender.