Factors Distinguishing Urban and Rural State Mental Hospital Patients in Florida

Authors

Elane M. Nuehring, Barry College
Robert A. Ladner, Behavioral Science Research Institute of Coral Gables, Florida

Abstract

This study compares the patients of two state mental hospitals, one serving an urban region, the other a rural district. The purpose is to explore urban and rural patient differences on background, hospital history and experience, post-release living situation, use of community mental health services, and postrelease functioning. A summary attempt to distinguish urban from rural patients using discriminant function analysis established that rural-urban differences exist in symptom manifestation, the patient's personal and social environment, and institutional processing patterns. These patient differences have implications for the development of aftercare services.

Recommended Citation

Nuehring, Elane M. and Ladner, Robert A. (1981) "Factors Distinguishing Urban and Rural State Mental Hospital Patients in Florida," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 8: Iss. 1, Article 15.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.1450
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol8/iss1/15