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Background: The Group Climate Inventory (GCI) was tested for measurement invariance across 332 adults with and 225 adults without mild intellectual disabilities in Dutch forensic treatment, and for latent mean differences on its Support, Growth, Repression, and Atmosphere subscales., Method: Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate the configural, threshold, and loading and threshold invariance of the GCI across both groups, and to compare group latent means on each subscale., Results: Measurement invariance was found across groups. Latent mean group comparisons showed small but significant differences reflected in lower scores on Support and Atmosphere in the group with mild intellectual disabilities., Conclusion: The GCI allows meaningful comparisons between clients with and without mild intellectual disabilities in secure facilities. Results from the between-group comparisons suggest that consideration should be given as to whether, and why, the support and atmosphere perceptions of clients with mild intellectual disabilities might be less good., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: In secure residential facilities, group climate perceptions of clients with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning are systematically assessed for quality improvement. A valid and reliable measure may ensure that this process is consistent. The Group Climate Inventory-Revised (GCI-R) is a new measure to assess group climate perceptions., Method: Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted in 148 adult clients (79% male) with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning in a secure facility to examine internal structure validity and internal consistency reliability of the GCI-R., Results: The results indicate support for the five-factor structure of the GCI-R ('Support', 'Growth', 'Repression', 'Peer interactions', and 'Physical environment'). The internal consistency reliability of its scales ranged from acceptable to good (α: .72-.87; ω: .76-.86)., Conclusion: The GCI-R demonstrates evidence of psychometric adequacy when applied to adult clients with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning in secure residential facilities., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Relationships between dynamic risk factors for externalising problem behaviour and group climate were investigated in 151 adult in-patients with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning in a Dutch secure residential facility., Method: Regression analysis was used to predict total group climate score and Support, Growth, Repression, and Atmosphere subscales of the 'Group Climate Inventory'. Predictor variables were Coping Skills, Attitude towards current treatment, Hostility, and Criminogenic attitudes subscales of the 'Dynamic Risk Outcome Scales'., Results: Less hostility predicted a better overall group climate, better support and atmosphere, and less repression. A positive attitude towards current treatment predicted better growth., Conclusion: Results indicate relationships of hostility and attitude towards current treatment with group climate. A focus on both dynamic risk factors and group climate may provide a basis for improving treatment for this target group., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: This study examines associations between group climate, aggressive incidents and coercive measures in adults with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning (MID-BIF) of a secure forensic setting., Method: Participants (N = 248) were interviewed about their perception of group climate utilizing the Group Climate Instrument. Data on aggressive incidents and coercive measures were retrieved from the facilities' electronic database. A multilevel structural equation model was fitted in which variability in perception of group climate within and between living groups was examined., Results: An open and therapeutic group climate was associated with lower levels of aggression within and between groups. A higher number of aggressive incidents were significantly associated with a higher number of coercive measures., Conclusions: The findings have implications for the understanding of how group climate may play a role in reducing aggressive incidents at the living group in treatment of individuals with MID-BIF in secure forensic settings., (© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: This study examined the psychometric properties of the Group Climate Instrument (GCI) in a sample of N = 189 adults (79% men) with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning who were residents of a treatment facility in the Netherlands., Method: Construct validity of the GCI was examined by means of confirmatory factor analysis. Also, reliability and convergent validity of the GCI were examined. We also examined the variability in perception of the living group climate between and within living groups by computing intraclass correlation coefficients., Results: The model contained four first-order factors (support, growth, group atmosphere and repression) and a second-order factor overall climate, providing preliminary support for construct validity of the GCI. Reliability coefficients were good for all factors. Preliminary evidence for convergent validity was found in significant moderate associations between subscales and single item ratings for the factors of group climate. The intraclass correlation coefficients indicated that a considerate proportion of variance can be attributed to between-group differences., Conclusions: The GCI might be used to assess perception of the living group climate for individuals with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning in psychiatric and forensic care settings, although further development of the GCI and replication of our findings seem necessary., (© 2018 The Authors. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research published by MENCAP and International Association of the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disibilities and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)