Home Behaviors of Children in Three Treatment Settings: An Outpatient Clinic, a Day Hospital, and an Inpatient Hospital

To compare parents' ratings of home behaviors of three groups of children: those entering an outpatient clinic, a day hospital, and an inpatient hospital. It was hypothesized that the home behaviors of children starting day and inpatient hospital treatment would be rated as significantly more deviant than those of children beginning outpatient treatment, and there would be no significant differences in behavior ratings of children beginning day and inpatient hospital treatment. A standardized behavior checklist was completed by the primary parent at the time treatment was begun. Scores on four factor scales were obtained, and a multivariate analysis of covariance was carried out. The hypotheses were partially supported. Children beginning day and inpatient hospitalization were seen as more disordered, anxious, and aggressive than were those starting outpatient treatment; children starting day treatment were reported as more learning disabled than were those in both outpatient and inpatient settings; and children entering the inpatient setting were perceived as more aggressive than were those in day treatment. Aggressive behavior and learning disability appear to be determinants of choice of treatment setting. The progression from least to most restrictive placement was demonstrated for aggressive behavior only.