Skip to main content
Log in

An overview of issues in research on consumer satisfaction with child and adolescent mental health services

  • Regular Papers
  • Published:
Journal of Child and Family Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Research that focusses on consumer satisfaction with child and adolescent mental health services is reviewed. Satisfaction is broadly conceived to include any study where the perspectives of children, adolescents or their parents about mental health services were gathered and presented. Important conceptual issues in research on consumer satisfaction with children's mental health services are discussed. Some of the general methodological issues that have faced satisfaction researchers are also considered. The wide range of methodological variations that have been used to investigate this topic area are outlined. The most significant findings of previous research are presented and critiqued. In conclusion, suggestions are made about the most fruitful directions for future research.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Attkisson, C. C. & Zwick, R. (1982). The Client Satisfaction Questionnaire: Psychometric properties and correlations with service utilization and psychotherapy outcome.Evaluation and Program Planning, 5, 233–237.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Basch, C. E. (1987). Focus group interview: An underutilized research technique for improving theory and practice in health education.Health Education Quarterly, 14, 411–448.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bickman, L., Heflinger, C. A., Pion, G., & Behar, L. (1992). Evaluation for an innovative children's mental health system.Clinical Psychology Review, 12, 853–865.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brannan, A. M. & Heflinger, C. A. (1993, October),Client satisfaction with mental health services. Paper presented at the 21st Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association, San Francisco, CA.

  • Brannan, A. M. & Heflinger, C. A. (1994, April).Parental satisfaction with their children's mental health service. Paper presented at Building on Family Strengths Conference, Portland, OR.

  • Byalin, K. (1993). Assessing parental satisfaction with children's mental health services: A pilot study.Evaluation and Program Planning, 16, 69–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charlop, M. H., Parrish, J. M., Fenton, L. R., & Cataldo, M. F. (1987). Evaluations of hospital-based outpatient pediatric psychology services.Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 12, 485–503.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Collins, B. G. & Collins, T. M. (1990a). Professional responses to parent involvement in treatment planning. In A. Algarin & R. M. Friedman (Eds.),Third Annual Conference Proceedings — A “System of Care” for Children's Mental Health: Building a Research Base (pp. 249–257). Tampa, FL: The Research and Training Center for Children's Mental Health, Florida Mental Institute, University of South Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins, B., & Collins, T. (1990b). Parent-professional relationships in the treatment of seriously emotionally disturbed children and adolescents.Social Work, 35, 522–527.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cournoyer, D. E. & Johnson, H. C. (1991). Measuring parents' perceptions of mental health professionals.Research on Social Work Practice, 1, 399–415.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeChillo, N. (1993). Collaboration between social workers and families of patients with mental illness.Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporay Human Services, 74, 104–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeChillo, N., Koren, P. E., & Schultze, K. H. (in press). From paternalism to partnership: Exploring family/professional relationships in children's mental health.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry.

  • DeChillo, N., Stuntzer-Gibson, D., Friesen, B. J., Paulson, R. L., & Koren, P. E. (1994).Service fit for children and families in the Oregon Partners Project. Unpublished manuscript, Portland State University, Portland Oregon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duchnowski, A., Berg., K., & Kutash, K. (in press). Parent participation in and perception of placement decisions. In J. M. Kaufman, J. W. Lloyd, T. A. Astutu, and Hallahan, D. P. (Eds.),Issues in the educational placement of pupils with emotional or behavioral disorders. Hillsdale, NJ; Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

  • Elbeck, M. (1992). Patient contribution to the design and meaning of patient satisfaction for quality assurance purposes: The psychiatric case.Health Care Management Review, 17, 91–95.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Friesen, B. J., Koren, P. E., & Koroloff, N. M. (1992). How parents view professional behaviors: A cross-professional analysis.Journal of Child and Family Studies, 1, 209–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friesen, B. J. & Koroloff, N. M. (1990). Family-centered services: Implications for mental health administration and research.Journal of Mental Health Administration, 17, 13–25.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greenley, J. R. & Robitschek, C. G. (1991). Evaluation of a comprehensive program for youth with severe emotional disorders: An analysis of family experiences and satisfaction.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 61, 291–297.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grella, C. E. & Gresky, O. (1989). Families of the seriously mentally ill and their satisfaction with services.Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 40, 831–835.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grunebaum, H., & Friedman, H. (1988). Building collaborative relationships with families of the mentally ill.Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 39, 1183–1187.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hatfield, A. (1979). The family as partner in the treatment of mental illness.Hospital and community Psychiatry, 30, 338–340.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hatfield, A. (1983). What families want of family therapists. In W. MacFarlane (Ed.),Schizophrenia and the family (pp. 41–65). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holden, D. F. & Lewine, R. R. J. (1982). How families evaluate mental health professionals, resources, and effects of illness.Schizophrenia Bulletin, 8, 626–633.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Horner, B. & Lubrecht, J. (1992). Toward a scientific understanding of parents and their children's experiences related to mental health services. In K. Kutash, C. J. Liberton, A. Algarin, & R. M. Friedman (Eds.),Fifth Annual Research Conference Proceedings — “A System of Care” for Children's Mental Health: Expanding the Research Base (pp. 271–276). Tampa, FL: Research and Training Center for Children's Mental Health, Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horner, B. & Ray, J. A. (1993). Preliminary findings from program evaluation research on the North Idaho child and adolescent service system project. In K. Kutash, C. J. Liberton, A. Algarin, & R. M. Friedman (Eds.),Sixth Annual Research Conference Proceedings — “A System of Care” for Children's Mental Health: Expanding the Research Base (pp. 19–28). Tampa, FL: Research and Training Center for Children's Mental Health, Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Illback, R. (1993).Evaluation of the Kentucky Impact Program for children and youth with severe emotional disabilities, year two. Frankfort, KY: Division of Mental Health, Children and Youth Services Branch.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E., French, N. H., & Sherick, R. B. (1981). Acceptability of alternative treatments for children: Evaluations by inpatient children, parents, and staff.Journal of Consulting and Clinicakl Psychology, 49, 900–907.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirgin, K. A., Braukmann, C. J., Atwater, J. D., & Wolf, M. M. (1982). An evaluation of teaching-family (achievement place) group homes for juvenile offenders.Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 15, 1–16.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Knitzer, J. (1982).Unclained children: The failure of public responsibility to children and adolescents in need of mental health services. Washington, DC: Children's Defense Fund.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koren, P. E., DeChillo, N., & Friesen, B. J. (1992). Measuring empowerment in families whose children have emotional disabilities: A brief questionnaire.Rehabilitation Psychology, 7, 305–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotsopoulos, S., Elwood, S., & Oke, L. (1989). Parent satisfaction in a child psychiatric service.Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 34, 530–533.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kutash, K., & Rivera, T. (Eds.). 1992.Measures of satisfaction with child mental health services: Selected measures and annotated bibliography. (Technical Report). Tampa, FL: Research and Training Center for Children's Mental Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsen, D. L., Attkisson, C. C., Hargreaves, W. A., & Hguyen, T. D. (1979). Assessment of client/patient satisfaction: Development of a general scale.Evaluation and Programming Planning, 2, 197–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lebow, J. (1982). Consumer satisfaction with mental health treatment.Psychological Bulletin, 91, 244–259.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lebow, J. L. (1983). Research assessing consumer satisfaction with mental health treatment: A review of findings.Evaluation and Program Planning, 6, 211–236.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Loff, C. D., Trigg, L. J., & Cassels, C. (1987). An evaluation of consumer satisfaction in a child psychiatric service: Viewpoints of patients and parents.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 57, 132–234.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McMahon, R. J. & Forehand, R. L. (1983). Consumer satisfaction in behavioral treatment of children: Types, issues, and recommendations.Behavior Therapy, 14, 209–225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, D. L. (1988).Focus groups as qualitative research. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moynihan, M. H., Forward, J. R., & Stolbach, B. (1993). Colorado's Parent Satisfaction Survey: Findings and policy implications for local systems of care. In K. Kutash, C. J. Liberton, A. Algarin, & R. M. Friedman (Eds.),Sixth Annual Research Conference Proceedings — “A System of Care” for Children's Mental Health: Expanding the Research Base (pp. 69–80). Tampa, FL: Research and Training Center for Children's Mental Health, Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters, B. M. (1978). School-aged children's beliefs about causality of illness: A review of the literature.Maternal-Child Nursing Journal, 7, 143–154

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Petr, C. G. & Barney, D. D. (1993). Reasonable efforts for children with disabilities.Social Work, 38, 247–254.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, E. L., Phillips, E. A., Fixsen, D. L., & Wolf, M. M. (1974).The teaching-family handbook, Lawrence: University of Kansas Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, L. D., Heckman, T., Carro, M. G., & Burchard, J. D. (1994). Satisfaction, involvement and unconditional care: The perceptions of children and adolescents receiving wraparound services.Journal of Child and Family Studies, 3, 55–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rouse, L. W., MacCabe, N. & Toprac, M. G. (1994, March)Measuring satisfaction with community-based services for severely emotionally disturbed children: A comparison of questionnaires for children and parents. Paper presented at the Seventh Annual Research Conference for a “system of care” for children's mental health: Expanding the Research Base, Tampa, FL.

  • Sabourin, S., Laferriere, N., Sicuro, F., Coallier, J., Cournoyer, L., & Gendreau, P. (1989). Social desirability, psychological distress, and consumer satisfaction with mental health treatment.Journal of Counseling Psychology, 36, 352–356.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwab, M. E. & Stone, K. (1983). Conceptual and methodological issues in the evaluation of children's satisfaction with their mental health care.Evaluation and Program Planning, 6, 283–289.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silver, M. J., St. Clair, C. H., & Siegel, J. M. (1975). Parental satisfaction at follow-up of child outpatients from an urban mental health center.Journal of Community Mental Health, 3, 36–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solnick, J. V., Braukmann, C. J., Bedlington, M. M., Kirgin, K. A., & Wolf, M. M. (1981). The relationship between parent-youth interaction and delinquency in group homes.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 9, 107–119.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sommers, P. A. & Nycz, G. R. (1978). Monitoring consumer satisfaction with the clinical services provided to “exceptional” children.American Journal of Public Health, 68, 903–905.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stroul, B. (1993).Systems of care for children and adolescents with severe emotional disturbances: What are the results? Washington, DC: Georgetown University Child Development Center, CASSP Technical Assistance Center.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stroul, B. & Friedman, R. (1986).A system of care for severely emotionally disturbed children and youth. Washington, DC: Georgetown University child Development Center, CASSP Technical Assistance Center.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tarico, V. S., Low, B. P., Trupin, E., & Forsyth-Stephens, A. (1989). Children's mental health services: A parent perspective.Community Mental Health Journal, 25, 313–326.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Trochim, W., Dumont, J., & Campbell, J. (1993).Mapping mental health outcomes from the perspective of consumers/survivors. (Technical Reports Series). Alexandria, VA: National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors Research Institute, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webster-Stratton, C., Hollingsworth, T., & Kolpacoff, M. (1989). The long-term effectiveness and clinical significance of three cost-effective training programs for families with conduct-problem children.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 57, 550–553.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Young, S., Nicholson, J., & Davis, M. (1994).Guide to instruments assessing consumer satisfaction with children's mental health services. Working Paper, Center for Psychosocial and Forensics Services Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Young, S.C., Nicholson, J. & Davis, M. An overview of issues in research on consumer satisfaction with child and adolescent mental health services. J Child Fam Stud 4, 219–238 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02234097

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02234097

Key Words

Navigation