title: The effects of hospital closure on mental health workers: an overview of employment, mental and physical health, and attitudinal outcomes.
abstract: This article examines the physical, psychological, and attitudinal impact of the closure of Central State Hospital (CSH) on its former employees. Eighty-five former CSH employees were interviewed at two points in time, preclosure and postclosure. Data on the psychological and physical health and employment attitudes of workers were collected prior to and eight months after organizational closure. Over time, workers had more positive attitudes about the hospital closure as well as reporting less depression, less work stress, and use of more coping strategies at postclosure. However, at post-closure, they also reported increased work conflict, lower income, and a more pessimistic outlook toward their future. Implications for hospital closure are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis 46202-5152, USA. dmesch@iupui.edu
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Mesch
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: McGrew
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Pescosolido
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Haugh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006271:Health Facility Closure; D006304:Health Status; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006783:Hospitals, State; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data