Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Leadership, Organizational Climate, and Working Alliance in a Children’s Mental Health Service System

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Community Mental Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The goal of this study was to examine the relationships of transformational leadership and organizational climate with working alliance, in a children’s mental health service system. Using multilevel structural equation modeling, the effect of leadership on working alliance was mediated by organizational climate. These results suggest that supervisors may be able to impact quality of care through improving workplace climate. Organizational factors should be considered in efforts to improve public sector services. Understanding these issues is important for program leaders, mental health service providers, and consumers because they can affect both the way services are delivered and ultimately, clinical outcomes.

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.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aarons, G. A. (2004). Mental health provider attitudes toward adoption of evidence-based practice: The evidence-based practice attitude scale (EBPAS). Mental Health Services Research, 6(2), 61–74.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Aarons, G. A. (2006). Transformational and transactional leadership: Association with attitudes toward evidence-based practice. Psychiatric Services, 57(8), 1162–1169.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Aarons, G. A., Hurlburt, M., & Horwitz, S. M. (2011a). Advancing a conceptual model of evidence-based practice implementation in child welfare. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 38(1), 4–23.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Aarons, G. A., & Sawitzky, A. C. (2006). Organizational culture and climate and mental health provider attitudes toward evidence-based practice. Psychological Services, 3(1), 61–72.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Aarons, G. A., Sommerfeld, D. H., & Willging, C. E. (2011b). The soft underbelly of system change: The role of leadership and organizational climate in turnover during statewide behavioral health reform. Psychological Services, 8(4), 269–281.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Abrahamson, D. J. (1999). Outcomes, guidelines, and manuals: On leading horses to water. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 6(4), 467–471.

    Google Scholar 

  • Avolio, B. J., Bass, B. M., & Jung, D. I. (1999). Re-examining the components of transformational and transactional leadership using the multifactor leadership questionnaire. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 72(4), 441–462.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Avolio, B. J., Gardner, W. L., Walumbwa, F. O., Luthans, F., & May, D. R. (2004). Unlocking the mask: A look at the process by which authentic leaders impact follower attitudes and behaviors. The Leadership Quarterly, 15(6), 801–823.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bass, B. M. (1997). Does the transactional–transformational leadership paradigm transcend organizational and national boundaries? American Psychologist, 52(2), 130–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bass, B. M., & Avolio, B. J. (1995). MLQ: Multifactor leadership questionnaire (technical report). NY: Center for Leadership Studies, Binghamton University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Busseri, M. A., & Tyler, J. D. (2003). Interchangeability of the working alliance inventory and working alliance inventory, short form. Psychological Assessment, 15(2), 193–197.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P. W., Diwan, S., Campion, J., & Rashid, F. (2002). Transformational leadership and the mental health team. Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 30(2), 97–108.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P. W., Lickey, S. E., & Campion, F. (2000). A short course in leadership skills for the rehabilitation team. Journal of Rehabilitation, 66(2), 56–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glisson, C. (1989). The effect of leadership on workers in human service organizations. Administration in Social Work, 13, 99–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glisson, C. (2002). The organizational context of children’s mental health services. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 5(4), 233–253.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glisson, C., & Durick, M. (1988). Predictors of job satisfaction and organizational commitment in human service organizations. Administrative Science Quarterly, 33(1), 61–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glisson, C., & Green, P. (2006). The effects of organizational culture and climate on the access to mental health care in child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 33(4), 433–448.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glisson, C., & Green, P. (2011). Organizational climate, services and outcomes in child welfare systems. Child Abuse and Neglect, 35(8), 582–591. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2011.04.009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glisson, C., & Hemmelgarn, A. (1998). The effects of organizational climate and interorganizational coordination on the quality and outcomes of children’s service systems. Child Abuse and Neglect, 22(5), 401–421.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Glisson, C., & James, L. R. (2002). The cross-level effects of culture and climate in human service teams. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 23, 767–794.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glisson, C., Landsverk, J., Schoenwald, S., Kelleher, K., Hoagwood, K., Mayberg, S., et al. (2008a). Assessing the organizational social context (OSC) of mental health services: Implications for research and practice. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research. Special Issue: Improving Mental Health Services, 35(1), 98–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glisson, C., Schoenwald, S., Kelleher, K., Landsverk, J., Hoagwood, K., Mayberg, S., et al. (2008b). Therapist turnover and new program sustainability in mental health clinics as a function of organizational culture, climate and service structure. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 35, 124–133.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Green, A. E., Miller, E. A., & Aarons, G. A. (2013). Transformational leadership moderates the relationship between emotional exhaustion and turnover intention among community mental health providers. Community Mental Health Journal, 49, 373–379.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hedeker, D. R., Gibbons, R. D., & Davis, J. M. (1991). Random regression models for multicenter clinical trials data. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 27(1), 73–77.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horvath, A. O., & Luborsky, L. (1993). The role of the therapeutic alliance in psychotherapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61(4), 541–573. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.61.4.561.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horvath, A. O., & Symonds, B. D. (1991). Relation between working alliance and outcome in psychotherapy: A meta-analysis. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 38, 139–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu, L.-T., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6(1), 1–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • James, L. R., & Sells, S. B. (1981). Psychological climate: Theoretical perspectives and empirical research. In D. Magnusson (Ed.), Toward a psychology of situations: An international perspective (pp. 275–295). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karver, M. S., Handelsman, J. B., Fields, S., & Bickman, L. (2006). Meta-analysis of therapeutic relationship variables in youth and family therapy: The evidence for different relationship variables in the child and adolescent treatment outcome literature. Clinical Psychology Review, 26(1), 50–65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lewin, K., & Lippitt, R. (1938). An experimental approach to the study of autocracy and democracy: A preliminary note. Sociometry, 1(3/4), 292–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacKinnon, D. P., Fritz, M. S., Williams, J., & Lockwood, C. M. (2007). Distribution of the product confidence limits for the indirect effect: Program PRODCLIN. Behavior Research Methods, 39, 384–389.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • MacKinnon, D. P., Lockwood, C. M., & Williams, J. (2004). Confidence limits for the indirect effect: Distribution of the product and resampling methods. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 39, 99–128.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Margison, F., McGrath, G., Barkham, M., Clark, J. M., Audin, K., & Connell, J. (2000). Measurement and psychotherapy: Evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 177(2), 123–130.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, D. J., Garske, J. P., & Davis, M. K. (2000). Relation of the therapeutic alliance with outcome and other variables: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68(3), 438–450.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, R. P., & Ho, M. H. R. (2002). Principles and practice in reporting structural equation analyses. Psychological Methods, 7(1), 64–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (2010). Mplus user’s guide (6th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Muthén & Muthén.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norcross, J. C. (1999). Collegially validated limitations of empirically validated treatments. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 6(4), 472–476.

    Google Scholar 

  • Northouse, P. G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and practice (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noser, K., & Bickman, L. (2000). Quality indicators of children’s mental health services: Do they predict improved client outcomes? Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 8(1), 9–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raudenbush, S. W., & Bryk, A. S. (2002). Hierarchical linear models: Applications and data analysis methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shirk, S. R., & Karver, M. (2003). Prediction of treatment outcome from relationship variables in child and adolescent therapy: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 71(3), 452–464.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Snijders, T., & Bosker, R. (1999). Multilevel analysis: An introduction to basic and advanced multilevel modeling. London: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strupp, H. H., & Anderson, T. (1997). On the limitations of therapy manuals. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 4(1), 76–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tracey, T. J., & Kokotovic, A. M. (1989). Factor structure of the working alliance inventory. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1(3), 207–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gregory A. Aarons.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Green, A.E., Albanese, B.J., Cafri, G. et al. Leadership, Organizational Climate, and Working Alliance in a Children’s Mental Health Service System. Community Ment Health J 50, 771–777 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-013-9668-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-013-9668-5

Keywords

Navigation