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Dissertation
The role of social context in the prediction and management of violence among persons with mental illness
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
Oct 2003
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-244
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the impact social contextual factors have on violence risk among patients with mental illness and persons in the community. A variety of social contextual factors were explored, including marital status, amount of social contact, stability of residence, number of persons in the home, numbers of negatively perceived persons, and amounts of instrumental, emotional, and mental health support received by participants. Using data collected as part of the MacArthur Violence Risk Assessment Study (Monahan et al., 2001), three sets of hypotheses were explored. These hypotheses investigated the relationship between social contextual factors and the outcome variables of serious acts of violence, to whom violence occurs, and the location of violence. Results indicate that patients were significantly more likely to engage in serious acts of violence than community respondents (43.4% versus 18.9%) during the preceding ten week period. Community respondents were significantly more likely than patients to target family members for violence (67.3% versus 40%) while patients were more likely than community respondents to target friends (26.8% versus 18.4%), strangers (13.8% versus 9.2%), and persons in multiple categories (19.5% versus 5.1%). Patients were also more likely than community respondents to engage in violence outside the home (63% versus 46%). Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that the level and type of support provided, and, more importantly, the perceptions of social interactions, were predictive of violence risk. The models were more effective in predicting the location of violence than for violence risk and for targets of violence. Possible explanations for the differing rates of violence among the participants are discussed, including findings indicating that patients have more problematic social support networks than do community respondents, including increased rates of separation/divorce and negatively perceived persons, and decreased rates of emotional support, less social contact with supportive others, and more instability in where they reside. Implications for the management of violence by addressing problematic aspects of social networks (e.g., inadequate housing) are also discussed.
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Details
- Title
- The role of social context in the prediction and management of violence among persons with mental illness
- Creators
- Cindy Cathleen Cottle - DU
- Contributors
- Kirk Heilbrun (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 244; 991014632664404721