The Essen Climate Evaluation Schema measure of social climate in a secure service for people with intellectual disabilities

Abstract

PurposeThe aim of the present study is to explore the psychometric properties of the EssenCES measure (patient report) of social climate in a secure service for people with intellectual disabilities.Design/methodology/approachPatients (37 men, 14 women, Mean age=33.24 years, SD=11.29, age range: 18‐71 years) residing in a secure intellectual disabilities service completed the EssenCES as part of routine clinical practice.FindingsReliability analysis revealed acceptable reliability for all three subscales (α=0.76‐0.88). In order to consider one aspect of the construct validity of this measure, a predicted group difference regarding the impact of security level on ratings of social climate was investigated. Analysis revealed that social climate ratings were more positive on low secure wards than medium secure wards as measured by the combined EssenCES subscales F(3, 31)=4.71, p=0.008; Λ=0.69; η2=0.31, and the Experienced Safety subscale, F(1, 33)=7.41, p=0.01.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research should consider the link between social climate and treatment outcome within forensic secure intellectual disability services.Originality/valueResults provide preliminary evidence to suggest that the EssenCES subscales (patient report) are reliable in this previously unconsidered population. However the validity of the measure is still unclear and requires further investigation.