Staff attributions and management of violent incidents in hostels for homeless people

Abstract

The attitudes, attributions and preferred management strategies of 59 workers in direct access hostels for homeless people were examined in relation to a hypothetical vignette of a violent incident. Half the participants were told that the man described had schizophrenia. Staff reported internal temporary, internal enduring and external attributions for the incident. They made fewer internal enduring attributions about the violent behaviour of a homeless person with schizophrenia than without, otherwise they made quite similar attributions. Staff rated psychiatric strategies as more useful in managing the behaviour of a person with schizophrenia. External attributions, positive attitudes and talking/caring management strategies were associated. Clinical implications of the study are discussed. Staff training and integrated multi-agency approaches to working with people who are homeless and experience mental health problems are recommended.