Community Mental Health Journal, 33(4), August 1997, pp.287-299.
Publisher:
Springer
Neighbours often presume that group homes (GHs) have negative effects on their neighbourhoods, but it is unclear how often GHs actually have adverse affects. Reports on a survey of neighbours and "non-neighbours" of group homes for people with disabilities in the USA. Neighbours were asked about their experiences and non-neighbours were asked about their expectations of what it would be like to live near a group home, both positive and negative. The research supports prior findings that expectations of negative effects are much greater than what is actually experienced by neighbours. It also suggests that GH operators might wish to capitalise on the positive expectations that may be overshadowed by the more commonly voiced negative expectations.
Neighbours often presume that group homes (GHs) have negative effects on their neighbourhoods, but it is unclear how often GHs actually have adverse affects. Reports on a survey of neighbours and "non-neighbours" of group homes for people with disabilities in the USA. Neighbours were asked about their experiences and non-neighbours were asked about their expectations of what it would be like to live near a group home, both positive and negative. The research supports prior findings that expectations of negative effects are much greater than what is actually experienced by neighbours. It also suggests that GH operators might wish to capitalise on the positive expectations that may be overshadowed by the more commonly voiced negative expectations.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, physical disabilities, public opinion, residential care, residential child care, stereotyped attitudes, attitudes;