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Positive perceptions held by support staff in community mental retardation services
Sharon Horne1, Richard Hastings
1School of Psychology, University of Wales Bangor, Wales, United Kingdom. r.hastings@bangor.ac.uk
American Journal of Mental Retardation : AJMR
|December 4, 2003
Summary
Support staff in mental retardation services report positive work perceptions, not just stress. A new tool, the Staff Positive Contributions Questionnaire (SPCQ), shows promise for measuring these beneficial outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Healthcare Support
Background:
- Previous research on support staff primarily examined stress-related variables.
- Limited attention has been given to positive outcomes and perceptions experienced by support staff.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate positive perceptions and outcomes among support staff working with adults with mental retardation.
- To introduce and evaluate the Staff Positive Contributions Questionnaire (SPCQ) as a measure of these positive experiences.
Main Methods:
- 101 support staff completed measures of burnout, mental health, and the novel Staff Positive Contributions Questionnaire (SPCQ).
- Statistical analyses were performed to assess the reliability and validity of the SPCQ.
Main Results:
- Participants endorsed a range of positive work perceptions, indicating their existence.
- The SPCQ demonstrated promising internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity.
Conclusions:
- Support staff can experience significant positive outcomes and perceptions in their work.
- The SPCQ is a reliable and valid instrument for further research into these positive aspects of support work.