title: Using social bonding theory to examine 'recovery' in a forensic mental health hospital: A qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For people living with mental illness, recovery involves learning to overcome and manage their symptoms and striving to live fulfilling lives. The literature on achieving recovery emphasises the importance of social connections and positive role models. Hirschi's social bonding theory posits that an individual's attachment to others, belief in social norms, and their commitment and involvement in conventional activities are the major contributors to normalising social behaviour.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to understand the qualities of service identified by patients in a forensic hospital as being important and meaningful to recovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews with 30 inpatients in a forensic mental health hospital in British Columbia, Canada, were audio recorded, and the transcriptions were analysed using thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five themes emerged: involvement in programmes, belief in rules and social norms, attachment to supportive individuals, commitment to work-related activities and concern about indeterminacy of stay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The first four themes map closely onto Hirschi's criminologically derived social bonding theory; however, indeterminacy of stay also arose as a common theme. In addition, the theory was too simple in its separation of elements; our data suggested the complex integration of themes. Our findings may be useful for informing evaluation of forensic mental health services.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission, BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services, Vancouver, BC, Canada.|School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nijdam-Jones
authors.affiliation: School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.|Department of Sociology and Criminology, St. Mary's University, Halifax, NS, Canada.|Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Livingston
authors.affiliation: School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verdun-Jones
authors.affiliation: Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission, BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services, Vancouver, BC, Canada.|School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.|Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brink
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D011582:Psychological Theory; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012919:Social Behavior; D012951:Socialization