Community integration of the mentally ill in residential facilities

Abstract

Much of the empirical research on the social adjustment of the mentally ill has focused on client variables. More recently, recognition of environmental factors as influences on behavior has led to attempts to determine environmental factors that may play a role in former mental patients' community integration. The secondary data analysis of 87 former state hospital patients in residential facilities suggests that while client characteristics are important in explaining community integration, facility, and community characteristics, particularly the level of skills training offered in the facility, size of city, and level of depersonalization of residents, have a significant impact. Results indicating the major importance of informal interactions between staff and clients are discussed, with implications for facility staff noted.