RT Article
T1 Safety First! Residential Group Climate and Antisocial Behavior: A Multilevel Meta-analysis
JF International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology
VO 69
IS 12
SP 1663
OP 1687
A1 E. M. A, Eltink
A1 J. J, Roest
A1 G. H. P, Van der Helm
A1 E. J. E, Heynen
A1 C. H. Z, Kuiper
A1 K. S, Nijhof
A1 S, Vandevelde
A1 J. D, Leipoldt
A1 G. J. J. M, Stams
A1 E, Knorth
A1 A.T, Harder
A1 M, Assink
A2 J. J, Roest
A2 G. H. P, Van der Helm
A2 E. J. E, Heynen
A2 C. H. Z, Kuiper
A2 K. S, Nijhof
A2 S, Vandevelde
A2 J. D, Leipoldt
A2 G. J. J. M, Stams
A2 E, Knorth
A2 A.T, Harder
A2 M, Assink
LA English
YR 2025
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1932111239
AB A systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis was performed (28 studies and 313 effect sizes) on the relation between residential group climate (i.e., safety, atmosphere, repression, support, growth, structure) and antisocial behavior, including aggression and criminal recidivism. A systematic search was conducted in PsychINFO, ERIC, and OVID Medline up to February 2023. Results showed a small but significant association (r = .20) between residential group climate and antisocial behavior, equivalent to a 23% reduction of antisocial behavior in all clients receiving care in a residential facility with a therapeutic group climate. Moderator analyses showed that experienced safety was more strongly related to antisocial behavior (r = .30) than the other dimensions of group climate (.17 < r < .20), while the effect size was somewhat larger for adults (r = .24) than for youth (r = .15). We conclude that residential facilities should consider safety as a priority and should involve clients in a positive process of change through the development of a therapeutic environment and delivery of evidence-based treatment, addressing their needs from the perspective of rehabilitation.
K1 Adult
K1 Aggression
K1 Antisocial Behavior
K1 group climate
K1 Meta-analysis
K1 Recidivism
K1 residential facility
K1 Youth
DO 10.1177/0306624X241252052