Life Contentment and Mental Health Care Satisfaction

Abstract

Objective: It is now well documented that satisfaction with mental health services is influenced by a variety of other factors (e.g., race, diagnosis, functioning level). Because of a generally brighter outlook, this study examined whether care satisfaction is also influenced by contentment in housing, social relations, or existence in general. Method: Data were collected from 264 individuals with schizophrenia who were discharged from psychiatric hospitals into community services (M = 37 years of age, SD = 9.41, 61% male). Results: Satisfaction with services was determined partially by satisfaction with housing and interpersonal relations even after accounting for the influence of age, gender, race, and level of functioning. The association was statistically significant in inpatient and outpatient care. Conclusion: Future satisfaction assessments in social work research and practice may need to account for contentment with other areas of life.

Keywords

satisfaction mental health housing social relations schizophrenia

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