PERCEPTIONS OF FAMILY ENVIRONMENT AMONG PSYCHIATRIC-PATIENTS AND THEIR WIVES FAMILY PROCESS Spiegel, D., WISSLER, T. 1983; 22 (4): 537-547

Abstract

This study compared the perceived family environments of former psychiatric inpatients with thought, affective, and substance abuse disorders to those of normative comparison couples using the Family Environment Scale. Family environment was assessed among patients and wives separately at hospital discharge and at three- and twelve-month follow-ups. Patients and their wives were consistently more incongruent in their perceptions of their shared environment than normative couples. In addition, low-functioning patient couples reported less family cohesion, expressiveness, and recreational emphasis than their higher functioning counterparts; the high-functioning patient couples more closely resembled the norm. The paper discusses possible relationships between positive family contact and better patient functioning.

View details for Web of Science ID A1983RX98300011

View details for PubMedID 6677524