Prediction of maladaptation in disadvantaged adolescent vocational students

The purpose of this study was to identify psychosocial moderator variables which would predict maladaptation during the first 90 days of Job Corps attendance. Subjects were 203 entering Job Corps students. Criterion measures were: (a) significant emotional difficulties, (b) attrition, and (c) behavior/discipline problems. Categories of moderator variables included personal attributes, past and current coping tendencies, and social support. The 27 predictor variables included: the 20 scales of the Millon Adolescent Personality Inventory (MAPI) (Millon, Green, & Meagher, 1982), age, reading grade level, legal history, mental health treatment history, history of suicide attempt, endorsement of critical items related to emotional distress, and social support. Three forward stepwise discriminant analyses were performed, one for each criterion measure. The results support the use of personal attributes and coping tendencies or styles as predictors of avoidant coping or maladaptation. Presence of mental health treatment history and MAPI Scale 4, Sociable, in combination best predicted diagnosis of emotional problems. Younger age and history of delinquency in combination best predicted attrition. The single MAPI Scale 6, Forceful, best predicted behavior/discipline problems. The findings were discussed in relation to support of stress moderator variable research and in relation to practical use in Job Corps.