Psychometric properties of the Group Climate Instrument (GCI) in individuals with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning

Abstract

Background This study examined the psychometric properties of the Group Climate Instrument (GCI) in a sample of N = 189 adults (79% men) with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning who were residents of a treatment facility in the Netherlands. Method Construct validity of the GCI was examined by means of confirmatory factor analysis. Also, reliability and convergent validity of the GCI were examined. We also examined the variability in perception of the living group climate between and within living groups by computing intraclass correlation coefficients. Results The model contained four first‐order factors (support, growth, group atmosphere and repression) and a second‐order factor overall climate, providing preliminary support for construct validity of the GCI. Reliability coefficients were good for all factors. Preliminary evidence for convergent validity was found in significant moderate associations between subscales and single item ratings for the factors of group climate. The intraclass correlation coefficients indicated that a considerate proportion of variance can be attributed to between‐group differences. Conclusions The GCI might be used to assess perception of the living group climate for individuals with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning in psychiatric and forensic care settings, although further development of the GCI and replication of our findings seem necessary.

Cross-sectional investigation of relationships between the organisational environment and challenging behaviours in support services for residents with intellectual disabilities

“…Microsystem aspects (anxiety, positive resident–staff interactions, staff member sensitivity, constant awareness, the involvement of family members and staying in contact with family members) were measured using items from the work-environment scale of the LGWCI ( Dekker et al, 2015 ; Neimeijer et al, 2018 ); friendly interpersonal behaviour, critical expressed emotion and proactive thinking scales of the SCIBI ( Willems et al, 2010 ); and with items of the FPI instrument ( Reid et al, 2007 ). Items on the negative effects of restraint measures, provision of stability and central role of a primary staff member were developed for this study ( Velze et al, 2010 ).…”

“Back off means stay with me”. Perceptions of individuals with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning about the group climate in a secure forensic setting

“…A topic list with visual support about group climate was used to guide the interviews. Consistent with the four subscales of the GCI (Neimeijer et al, 2019;Van der Helm et al, 2011), the central topics of the interviews were support, growth, atmosphere and repression. First, the interviewer asked the participant, which topic was most important to them (e.g.…”

“…Moreover, the Dutch Government underlines the importance of a safe and humane climate that encourages self-reliance and a safe return to society in its policy for correctional settings (Boone et al, 2016). Therefore, secure forensic settings monitor their group climate as a standard practice to inform their on-going quality improvement (De Vries et al, 2018;Neimeijer et al, 2019;Tonkin, 2015). An example of a monitoring instrument is the group climate instrument (GCI), which was developed to measure group climate in youth prisons and secure residential treatment facilities and is nowadays used in youth prisons, secure youth care facilities, forensic mental hospitals, adult prisons and residential care facilities for individuals with mild intellectual disabilities (Van der Helm et al, 2011;Stams and Van der Helm, 2017).…”

Group climate, aggressive incidents and coercion in a secure forensic setting for individuals with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning: A multilevel study

“…Participants were interviewed about their perception of group climate utilizing the revised Group Climate Instrument (GCI; Van der Helm et al, 2011 ; Neimeijer et al, 2019 ). The GCI is a self‐report questionnaire containing 29 items using a 5‐point Likert‐type scale varying from 1 (‘not applicable’) to 5 (‘entirely applicable’).…”

“…The GCI is a self‐report questionnaire containing 29 items using a 5‐point Likert‐type scale varying from 1 (‘not applicable’) to 5 (‘entirely applicable’). There is preliminary evidence for the construct validity and reliability of the GCI for individuals with MID‐BIF, based on confirmatory factor analysis (Neimeijer et al, 2019 ). These results are in line with other studies that used the GCI measure in other settings and for other target groups (Tonkin, 2015 ).…”