Effects of a Counselor‐Facilitated Rite of Passage Group on Behavioral Outcomes in At‐Risk Adolescent Boys: Evidence From the Quest Project®
Clayton J. LessorABSTRACT
Introduction
At‐risk adolescent boys exhibit elevated rates of behavioral problems, interpersonal difficulties, and emotional dysregulation—patterns shaped by multiple risk factors, including disrupted family relationships, and compounded by masculine gender socialization norms that discourage emotional expression and help‐seeking. Controlled outcome studies of group interventions specifically designed for at‐risk adolescent boys remain rare.
Methods
Using a controlled pre–post design, we examined the effects of a 10‐week counselor‐facilitated rite of passage group—the Quest Project—on teacher‐rated behavioral outcomes. The Behavioral Evaluation Scale–4 was administered to teachers of 77 male adolescents (ages 11–14; 40 treatment, 37 comparison) attending middle schools in a midwestern metropolitan area of the United States. Data were drawn from archived clinical and school records (2017).
Results
Groups were equivalent at pretest. After correction for multiple comparisons, between‐group analyses revealed a robust effect on Interpersonal Difficulties ( d = 0.69, p = 0.004), which survived both Bonferroni and Holm−Bonferroni correction, and a suggestive effect on Inappropriate Behavior ( d = 0.61, p = 0.010, Holm only) warranting replication. Treatment participants improved significantly in interpersonal functioning, while comparison participants worsened in behavioral regulation.
Conclusions
The intervention was associated with improved interpersonal functioning in at‐risk adolescent boys, alongside a suggestive association with reduced behavioral decline that warrants replication. These divergent trajectories suggest that the absence of structured support is not a neutral condition for at‐risk boys. Structured group interventions combining relational safety, masculine identity exploration, and expressive process can produce meaningful change during early adolescence. Implications for intervention design and adolescent development are discussed.