Becoming a success story: how boys who have molested children talk about treatment.
This grounded theory study was designed to generate a mid-range theory of treatment from the perspective of boys who have molested children and undergone outpatient treatment. Data included information from seven boys' charts, their written responses to open-ended questions, and audio-taped interviews. The interviews generated a series of statements reflecting the boys' experiences in treatment, which were analysed by the constant comparative method. The basic social process of treatment was 'becoming a success story'. The structural elements of becoming a success story included relapse prevention, compliance and decision-making. The boys integrated these structural elements by talking to people they trusted, listening to what people said, and using what people said to help them do what was right. Becoming a success story took place in a context of family and community support. In its current form, this theory of treatment success can be used in practice to monitor progress through treatment.
Lawson
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College of Nursing, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, USA. lawsonlouanne@uams.edu
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010553:Personality Development; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States