Adolescent Self-Efficacy in Relation to Illness Perception and Treatment Compliance: An Inpatient Study

Non-compliance with psychotropic treatment appears to be a growing problem among adolescent mental healthcare users. Treatment is frequently initiated during hospitalisation periods; however, at discharge a change in the primary administrator of the treatment poses a risk that the discharged patient may become non-compliant. In this study, we investigate factors influencing psychotropic treatment compliance of adolescent inpatients admitted to a psychiatric facility. A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, survey-type research design was employed. Approximately 170 participants were selected through a non-probability convenience sampling method. The data were gathered using self-reporting measures, namely the Drug Attitude Inventory, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire and the Decision Self-Efficacy Scale. The data were analysed using a Pearson product–moment correlation coefficient and a moderated hierarchical regression analysis. The results indicated a significant relationship between illness perception and self-efficacy where self-efficacy was identified as a moderator between illness perception and treatment compliance of male adolescent inpatients. The findings of the study and the gender differences which surfaced may contribute to a better understanding of the intricate processes related to treatment compliance in adolescents. These findings may help to direct intervention aimed at promoting treatment compliance.