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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 ([alpha]: 0.72-0.87; [omega]: 0.76-0.86). 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.

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.

Assessment and monitoring of safety in special education schools is imperative to establish and maintain a safe environment in which students can develop academic and social–emotional skills. The present study describes the development of a student self‐report measure, the Safe at School questionnaire. Factorial validity, reliability and concurrent validity was examined in a construction sample of 280 students (68.6% male, age M = 13.29, SD = 2.52) and a validation sample of 1572 students (77.4% male; age M = 14.33, SD = 2.04), representing 233 classes from 20 schools for special education in the Netherlands. Multilevel confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the factor structure of the Safe at School questionnaire. A model with three correlating factors at the within‐ and between‐group level (Rules and Social Norms, Perceived Own Safety and Perceived Safety of Other Students) showed a satisfactory fit to the data. Reliabilities of the scales were good. Also, measurement invariance for gender was demonstrated, indicating no differences in latent means between boys and girls. Implications for practice and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined associations between group climate as perceived by 212 individuals with mild intellectual disability and work climate as experienced by 262 sociotherapists in a forensic setting. Results showed that if sociotherapists experienced more job satisfaction, they experienced less negative team functioning. Also, more positive team functioning was related to less repression. Workload and negative team functioning were related to less possibilities for growth by clients. No significant associations were found between other work climate and group climate dimensions. This study emphasized the importance of being aware of parallel processes between work climate and group climate in secure settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interactions among peers in residential youth care are an important dynamic factor affecting behavioral adjustment and treatment success. Assessment and monitoring of the quality of peer interactions are potentially important for promoting a positive peer culture at the living group, contributing to a positive social climate. However, currently, there are no measures available to assess peer interactions in residential youth care. The present study describes the development, construct validity, and reliability of the Peer Interactions in Residential Youth Care questionnaire (PIRY) in a sample of 345 adolescents (age M = 15.45, SD = 1.59, 44.9% male) in the Netherlands. Confirmatory factor analysis of a two-factor model (peer support and acceptance, and relational aggression) showed a good fit to the data, and internal consistency reliabilities were good for both scales. Partial strict measurement invariance for gender was established, and no significant differences were found between boys and girls on latent factor means. The PIRY can be used in practice to assess and monitor both positive and negative peer interactions in residential youth care at the group level. Implications for research and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most youth in residential youth care institutions have a long history of adverse childhood experiences, and show (severe) emotional, behavioral, and academic problems. The present study used adolescent self-report questionnaires to examine associations between living group climate, classroom climate, identification with school, general self-worth and academic self-concept of students attending schools for special education in residential youth care institutions in the Netherlands. The sample consisted of 184 adolescents (63.6% male, age M = 16.40, SD = 1.99) with severe emotional and behavioral problems. Results showed a weak association between living group climate and classroom climate, and somewhat stronger associations between classroom climate, identification with school and general self-worth on the one hand and academic self-concept on the other hand. We conclude that group workers and teachers should collaborate for the benefit of integrated care and education in residential youth care facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]