Organizational Climate and Support Among Peer Specialists Working in Peer-Run, Hybrid and Conventional Mental Health Settings

Adm Policy Ment Health. 2020 Jan;47(1):150-167. doi: 10.1007/s10488-019-00980-9.

Abstract

As the peer specialist workforce continues to expand, it is critical to better understand peer providers' working conditions and workplace experiences. The current study utilized a targeted non-probability sample of 801 peer specialists to explore whether key organizational climate and support variables would yield distinct multivariate groups, and to investigate the correlates of these groups. Analyses yielded a seven-group solution, with peer run organizations comprising a substantially greater proportion of the groups with high organizational climate and support scores. In direct comparisons, peer-run programs outranked all other groups in the areas of perceived organizational climate, supports for career development and perceived service quality.

Keywords: Peer Specialists; Peer Support; Workforce Development.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interprofessional Relations*
  • Male
  • Mental Health Services / organization & administration*
  • Organizational Culture*
  • Peer Group*
  • Quality of Health Care
  • Staff Development / organization & administration
  • Workplace / psychology*