Social climate differences in a large psychiatric hospital: staff and client observations

Abstract

Most of the research on social climate in psychiatric hospitals has addressed differences in client/staff perceptions, while neglecting the differences in social climate across types of wards. However, the literature on setting heterogeneity has also suggested that it might be important to examine differences between types of wards within a psychiatric institution since different setting subclassifications have been identified in other settings (Luke, Rappaport, & Seidman, 1991). This research is important to evaluate the treatment milieu and identify aspects of the ward treatment that may require changes in order to function more effectively. Using the Ward Atmosphere Scale (WAS) (Moos, 1989) we surveyed both clients (n = 130) and staff (n = 113) on three types of wards, specialized, extended care, and acute care, within a large urban state psychiatric hospital. Although, clients perceived differences between extended care and acute units, staff did not. Staff, however, reported differences between specialized and extended care wards on all subscales except Anger and Aggression. These findings suggest that perceptions of social climate within this psychiatric hospital are different for acute and extended care treatment settings, and that staff and clients perceive these settings differently. Although prior studies have documented that staff and clients differ on their perceptions of the ward social climate, the present results highlight the need to consider ward type in social climate studies. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.