HOME BEHAVIORS OF CHILDREN IN 3 TREATMENT SETTINGS - AN OUTPATIENT-CLINIC, A DAY HOSPITAL, AND AN INPATIENT HOSPITAL

Objective: To compare parents' ratings of home behaviors of three grou ps of children: those entering an outpatient clinic, a day hospital, a nd an inpatient hospital. It was hypothesized that the home behaviors of children starting day and inpatient hospital treatment would be rat ed as significantly more deviant than those of children beginning outp atient treatment, and there would be no significant differences in beh avior ratings of children beginning day and inpatient hospital treatme nt. Method: A standardized behavior checklist was completed by the pri mary parent at the time treatment was begun. Scores on four factor sca les were obtained, and a multivariate analysis of covariance was carri ed out. Results: The hypotheses were partially supported. Children beg inning day and inpatient hospitalization were seen as more disordered, anxious, and aggressive than were those starting outpatient treatment ; children starting day treatment were reported as more learning disab led than were those in both outpatient and inpatient settings; and chi ldren entering the inpatient setting were perceived as more aggressive than were those in day treatment. Conclusion: Aggressive behavior and learning disability appear to be determinants of choice of treatment setting. The progression from least to most restrictive placement was demonstrated for aggressive behavior only.