Offenders' motivation to change.

Theodosi, Eleni. 2006. Offenders' motivation to change. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.

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Abstract

In this thesis, the Personal Concerns Inventory (PCI), a semi-structured interview based upon the Theory of Current Concerns (TCC), is adapted to measure offenders' motivation to change - the Personal Concerns Inventory: Offender Adaptation (PCI:OA). A literature review of treatment non-completion showed that non-completion was associated with increased recidivism and poor motivation is one possible reason for this. Assessment of motivation for treatment is, therefore, important The psychometric properties of the PCI:OA, a potential measure of motivation, are described. After a pilot study of the applicability of PCI:OA with 12 prisoners, 129 adult male prisoners were tested. The construct validity of the PCI:OA was found to be good, replicating the two factors found in the original PCI - adaptive motivation and maladaptive motivation. Test-retest correlations and internal consistency were poor. Concurrent validity was examined by correlating scores on the PCI:OA factors, the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (a self-report measure of stage of change in therapy), the Treatment Motivation Questionnaire (a measure of the degree of internal and external motivation to enter treatment), and staff ratings of engagement. Only limited concurrent validity was found. The predictive validity of the PCI:OA was examined by survival analysis of factor scores against reconviction at mean 234 days post release. The PCI:OA factors did not predict reconviction. The concerns yielded from the PCI:OA interviews are described in a qualitative study. Finally, because the PCI:OA appeared to motivate offenders to address their problems, the PCI:OA was adapted to suit sex offenders refusing treatment (the PCI:OA (TR)). A pilot study of 18 male sex offenders showed that the treatment group were more likely to express a positive motivational shift than those who had not received the PCI:OA (TR). Overall, the PCI:OA has some potential to assess offenders' motivation to change, but further investigations of the PChOA's ability to predict who engages with treatment, makes gains from programmes, and changes their offending, are required.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Psychology
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
ISBN:	9781303174322
Funders:	NHS National Programme on Forensic Mental Health R&D (Grant MRD 12/23)
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	12 Feb 2016 23:11
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/54283

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