Date of Conferral

2016

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Vincent Fortunato

Abstract

The use of physical restraints in residential treatment centers for children has been shown to be detrimental to both staff and the children. Although there have been nationwide initiatives to reduce or eliminate the use of physical restraints on children, to date, researchers have not yet identified the organizational factors that predict the likelihood of using physical restraints on children. Based on the two-factor theory, in which two different types of predictors of motivation and behavior in the workplace were identified, the purpose of this quantitative non-experimental study was to examine whether satisfaction with pay, a hygiene factor, and satisfaction with supervision and perceived organizational support, motivating factors, predict the frequency of the use of physical restraints. Satisfaction with pay and supervision were measured using the Job Satisfaction Survey and perceived organizational support was measured using the Perceived Organizational Support Survey. Data were collected from 245 direct care staff members employed at residential treatment centers for children. Pearson product moment correlations and multiple regression analysis were conducted. The results indicated that satisfaction with supervision was negatively and statistically significantly related to the use of physical restraints on children in residential care and satisfaction with pay approached significance. Organizational changes that address training, development, pay, and best practices for supervision may aid in the reduction of physical restraints used on children. The reduction in physical restraints would thereby reduce the undesirable impact they have on children and result in positive social change.

Included in

Psychology Commons

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