PREDICTING INTERPERSONAL PROBLEMS OF INPATIENT ADOLESCENTS: IMPACT OF FAMILY, PSYCHOSOCIAL AND SCHOOL INFLUENCES

The interpersonal functioning of psychiatrically-hospitalized adolescents provides insight into the deficits and dysfunctional modalities of responding that these individuals have developed as a result of life difficulties. Often utilized in treatment alliance and outcome research, interpersonal problems can guide and inform treatment and aid in overcoming barriers to care. The present study examined the relationships between psychosocial factors (parent and family, environmental, social, and educational) and scores on the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP; Horowitz, Rosenberg, Baer, Ureño & Villaseñor, 1988) in 79 psychiatrically-hospitalized adolescents at a county hospital in New York. The results suggest that several life circumstances were significant predictors of interpersonal problems in our adolescent sample. Taken together, the prevalence of bipolar disorders, conduct disorders, residence changes, kinship care, peer functioning, close relationships, initiating physical fights and school problems indicate that these areas can identify strengths and weaknesses in interpersonal functioning and provide focal points for treatment to improve outcomes in psychiatrically-hospitalized adolescents.