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Sex status, mental health referral processes, and involuntary disposition
Author(s) -
Richardson John G.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
american journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.113
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1573-2770
pISSN - 0091-0562
DOI - 10.1007/bf00912855
Subject(s) - disposition , referral , health psychology , turnover , mental health , legislation , involuntary treatment , public health , psychology , medicine , psychiatry , environmental health , family medicine , social psychology , political science , nursing , law , management , economics
This paper investigates the relationship between sex status, community referral sources, and determination of voluntary or involuntary disposition. The relationship between sex status and involuntary disposition is made primarily through significant differences in community living arrangements associated with different referral sources. Males are more likely to be living in more institutional settings which are linked to more distant referral sources; females are more likely to remain in private living settings and to be referred by close sources. These differences in ecological location within the community are linked to disposition as voluntary treatment or involuntary detention. It is suggested that the criteria of reform legislation tightening procedures for involuntary disposition are more descriptive of the status of socially marginal and economically indigent males.