The purpose of this study was to explore relationships among the environmental characteristics of psychiatric wards. Specifically, organizational structure and social atmosphere variables were measured and correlated. A second question of the research dealt with the impact of these two environmental factors on ward treatment effectiveness. Pre/post treatment outcome data and objective measures of ward organization and social atmosphere were collected from July, 1979 to June, 1980. On order to assess relationships among the three primary measures, a number of statistical analyses were performed. Intercorrelations, analyses of covariance, T-test and regression analyses were performed. The following conclusions were accepted: (1) Supportive staff/patient relations characterized the highly effective treatment ward. (2) Social supportiveness was the most consistent predictor of positive patient gain among the environmental measures studied. (3) An emphasis on practical approaches to treatment tended to characterize the highly effective ward. (4) A low or flexible organizational Hierarchy of authority was found on the highly effective ward. (5) A high structured Hierarchy of authority was present on the ineffective wards. (6) Low organizational Formalization of rules and roles characterized the highly effective ward. (7) A high emphasis on Formalization tended to characterize the ineffective wards. (8) Significant negative relationships were identified between ward social Support and the two organizational variables; Hierarchy and Formalization. (9) Significant negative relationships were also identified between the Practical Treatment Dimensions and the two organizational variables; Hierarchy and Formalization. (10) Small ward or sub-unit size appeared to be related to ward treatment effectiveness. The present research findings were generally consistent with previous studies which have explored ward social atmosphere. The present research was unique, however, in its use of community adjustment ratings as measures of treatment effectiveness. This research was also highly original in its exploration of the effect of more than one category of environmental variable; namely organizational structure with social atmosphere. Clear and significant relationships among these were generated from the research results.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UMASS/oai:scholarworks.umass.edu:dissertations-5170 |
| Date | 01 January 1981 |
| Creators | DASILVA, PETER JOSEPH |
| Publisher | ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst |
| Source Sets | University of Massachusetts, Amherst |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Source | Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest |
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