Date of Graduation

Summer 2012

Degree

Master of Science in Psychology

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

William Deal

Abstract

Despite a growing body of literature depicting the benefits of mental health courts (MHCs) regarding reduced recidivism, relatively little is known about what factors contribute to a successful completion of the programs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived social support and continued successful participation in Greene County Mental Health Court (GCMHC). In order to examine the construct, participants completed the Social Support Appraisal (SSA) and the Dual Role Relationship Inventory – Revised (DRI-R) upon entering GCMHC and six months after entering the program. Previous research suggested that perceived social support would be higher at baseline among those who were still enrolled in MHC at six months than those who were no longer participating. It also was expected that of those still participating at six months, perceived social support would be significantly increased for those who earned level promotions when compared to those who did not. Results from this study suggest that although in some cases perceived social support did increase, there were no significant differences between comparison groups.

Keywords

mental health court, jail diversion programs, factors in mhc outcomes, social support, perceived social support, Social Support Appraisal Scale, Dual Role Relationship Inventory-Revised

Subject Categories

Psychology

Copyright

© Jennifer Elizabeth Kincaid

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