Predicting Dropout from Children's Mental Health Services: Using a Need-Based Definition of Dropout.

This study compares predictors of dropout using a novel need-based definition, to existing definitions of dropout. Children (N = 650; 61% male) aged 5-13 attended five children's mental health agencies in Ontario. A mixed effects logistic regression was used to model binary outcome variables (i.e., dropout or treatment completion), for each definition of dropout. Using the need-based definition, older child age, lower child problem presentation, higher child risk behaviors, higher caregiver needs, and more child strengths predicted an increased likelihood of dropout. The need-based definition results in different predictors of dropout than existing definitions in the literature. High caregiver needs was the only predictor of dropout across all definitions. Caregiver needs represent a prospective target when distributing interventions aimed to reduce dropout. PMID: 31289986 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Child Psychiatry and Human Development - Category: Child Development Authors: Tags: Child Psychiatry Hum Dev Source Type: research