Individual and organizational factors influencing recovery-promoting competency among mental health practitioners

This study investigates individual and organizational factors influencing recovery-promoting competencies among mental health practitioners working with adults with serious mental illness, focusing on recovery knowledge, attitudes, organizational culture, and structure.

Using a cross-sectional design, an anonymous online survey was administered to 198 mental health practitioners across diverse U.S.

The survey measured practitioners' recovery-promoting competency, demographic characteristics, organizational culture, recovery-oriented structure, recovery knowledge, and recovery attitudes. Data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression guided by social ecological model.

Recovery knowledge (β = 0.304, p < .001), recovery attitudes (β = 0.379, p < .001), supportive organizational culture (β = 0.123, p = .042), and recovery-oriented administrative structure (β = 0.200, p = .002) significantly predicted recovery-promoting competency. Male practitioners reported lower competencies than female (β = -0.131, p = .019), while those with doctoral degrees reported higher competencies than those with bachelor's degrees (β = 0.146, p = .034). The final model explained 69.9% of variance.

Study shows fostering recovery-promoting competency requires both individual development and organizational support. Enhancing recovery knowledge and attitudes through targeted education may be particularly effective. However, training must be supported by recovery-oriented organizational context that reinforces these values through culture, structures, and operations. A supportive environment can empower practitioners to implement recovery principles. Findings highlight the need for coordinated multilevel strategies to strengthen recovery-oriented practice across diverse service settings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).