Rewards and Reinforcement in the Treatment of Youth Internalizing Problems
Book Chapter
Beech, A, Kamenetskiy, A, Pincus, DB et al. (2026). Rewards and Reinforcement in the Treatment of Youth Internalizing Problems
. 1-3 Vol2-V625. 10.1016/B978-0-443-29009-1.00006-8
Beech, A, Kamenetskiy, A, Pincus, DB et al. (2026). Rewards and Reinforcement in the Treatment of Youth Internalizing Problems
. 1-3 Vol2-V625. 10.1016/B978-0-443-29009-1.00006-8
Reinforcement processes are foundational to contemporary models of youth internalizing disorders and their treatments. We describe how patterns of positive and negative reinforcement contribute to the onset and maintenance of youth anxiety and depression, and how these mechanisms are targeted in empirically supported interventions. Treatments such as traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy, behavioral activation, interpersonal psychotherapy for adolescents, and family-focused treatment for childhood depression apply reinforcement strategies to promote adaptive behavior and engagement and commonly involve caregivers. Developmental processes and sociocultural factors must be considered for each case to ensure reinforcement-based strategies are feasible, acceptable, and culturally responsive across diverse clinical contexts.
