The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has updated its Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including with new information specifically addressed to individuals in the European Economic Area. As described in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, this website utilizes cookies, including for the purpose of offering an optimal online experience and services tailored to your preferences.

Please read the entire Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By closing this message, browsing this website, continuing the navigation, or otherwise continuing to use the APA's websites, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the utilization of cookies.

×
Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.40.8.824

The influence of environmental conditions on the community adjustment of chronic schizophrenic patients who live in boarding homes and other residential facilities was studied using data from medical records and interviews with patients. Seventyeight patients living in an urban area and 46 patients living in a rural area were included in the study. Compared with rural patients, urban patients were more likely to live in substandard dwellings, to receive less practical support from the home operator, and to report more incongruence with household members and aversive neighborhood conditions. Urban patients showed significantly more psychopathology, functioned more poorly in relationships with others, and had poorer global functioning than rural patients. Except for the physical condition of patients' dwellings, all the environmental conditions measured in the study were significantly associated with some measures of community adjustment regardless of geographic setting.

Access content

To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.