Effects of length of hospitalization in a state hospital on concept of self and others

The aim of this explanatory study was to investigate the effect length of hospitalization had upon self acceptance (SA) and acceptance of others (AO) in 31 first admission patients between ages 21 and 60 in a state psychiatric hospital, as a predictive measure for planning psychiatric nursing intervention. Berger's (1950) SA and AO tool was used as a measuring device in a partially experimental design. The sample population was tested within 12 hours after admission and placed into two groups for retesting at either 2 or 3 months' hospitalization. For each group, Pearson Product-Moment correlations, r, were computed to determine relationships between scores on first and second testing and between scores on SA and AO. A correlation was determined for all subjects between age and improvement scores. A t ratio to test chance probabilities of differences in sex, marital status, religion, type of admission, medication and diagnosis was determined. All scores were obtained at 3-month retest significant at the .01 level. The 2-month retest scores failed to be significant. Correlations between SA and AO were significant at the .01 level. A linear relationship between age and SA reached < .05 level of significance; with married persons as compared to single, showing significantly greater improvement at the .05 level. The Berger tool appeared to be highly reliable, reaching correlations of .680 and .540 test-retest at 2 months, and .729 and .766 at 3-month retest. Findings indicate length of hospitalization might be used as a predictive measure to plan nursing care patients. The study was limited by the small sample and the partial experimental design. Areas for further nursing research were identified.