Exploration of the relevance of values to clinical interventions and working with Mentally Disordered Offenders
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Date
30/06/2011Author
Tansey, Louise Sarah Bridget
Metadata
Abstract
The relevance of individuals' values to clinical situations is increasingly recognised in political
and clinical contexts. Enhancing an individual's capacity to live consistently with their values is
assumed to facilitate mental well-being and quality of life (QoL). However, little research has
empirically investigated whether this focus is appropriate. This collection of studies will
examine the relationship between values, well-being and QoL.
"Valued living" is a core aim of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) but it has received
little empirical attention. The values identified within ACT may not be equally applicable to all
clinical populations. Encouraging value-consistent action is often assumed to be inappropriate to
offender populations. Schwartz‟s universal model of human values is introduced to inform
understanding of the relationship between values and well-being and whether mentally
disordered offenders (MDOs) have similar values to a non-psychologically distressed
comparison group.
Method
Study 1 investigated the relationship between values, quality of life (QoL), psychological
distress and psychological inflexibility (cognitive fusion and experiential avoidance) amongst a
sample from the non-clinical sample (N = 109) using an online survey. Study 2 compared a subsample
from study 1 with MDOs detained in medium security (N = 15) on the same measures.
Study 3 explored participants‟ beliefs about the origin and maintenance of meaningful values.
Responses were coded according to ACT literature and analysed using content analysis.
Results
Amongst the non-clinical population, QoL was positively correlated with „valued living‟, and
negatively correlated with psychological inflexibility and distress. Psychological distress and
psychological inflexibility correlated positively with the Openness to Change value domain and
conservatism correlated negatively with psychological distress. No other relationships were
observed between psychological flexibility or distress and value domain in the non-clinical
population. MDOs had higher rates of psychological distress and lower psychological flexibility
and QoL than the non-distressed population; they also attributed less importance to the self-transcendence
value domain and more to self-enhancement. Benevolence was ranked
significantly lower by the MDO sample. Other large effect sizes were detected reflecting
differences between the samples, but they were not statistically significant. Intrinsic
reinforcement was considered an important factor that maintained values as meaningful to all
participants. Self-report data suggests that there are similarities and differences to how each
sample conceptualises values.
Discussion
A clinical focus on values appears to be justified. The addition of Schwartz‟s model provided
insight into the values of MDOs. The clinical and theoretical implications of the results are
discussed as are the strengths and limitations of the study.