An investigation of multidisciplinary community mental health staff members' casual attributions for non-engagement amongst clients with psychosis and research portfolio

Dafters, Rebecca (2006) An investigation of multidisciplinary community mental health staff members' casual attributions for non-engagement amongst clients with psychosis and research portfolio. D Clin Psy thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Objectives: This study applied Weiner's (1980; 1985) attributional model of helping behaviour to multidisciplinary community mental health staff attributions about nonengagement in psychosis. Design: A within-subjects design was used. Questionnaires were administered to assess staff causal attributions towards case vignettes and towards actual clients with psychosis. Method: Participants were asked to generate causes for non-engagement and to rate what they perceived to be the most likely cause along the dimensions: internal vs. external (to the client), stable vs. unstable (over time), global vs. specific and controllable vs. uncontrollable (by the client). Further dependent variables included ratings of affect, helping behaviour and optimism. Results: Partial support for Weiner's model was found in relation to case vignettes but not in relation to actual clients. There was some evidence in relation to vignette data that staff training in psychosocial interventions (PSI) may influence attributional responses and optimism in a positive direction. Conclusion: Future studies examining staff responses towards actual clients are needed to explore whether Weiner's model is applicable in real clinical settings. The ecological validity of using case vignettes to elicit causal attributions is questionable and further research is needed to clarify the best method for eliciting causal attributions. The impact of staff training in PSI also warrants further investigation.

• Item Type: Thesis (D Clin Psy)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Adviser: Andrew Gumley
• Keywords: Clinical psychology, Medical personnel
• Date of Award: 2006
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2006-74245
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 23 Sep 2019 15:33
• Last Modified: 23 Sep 2019 15:33
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/74245