Connection and autonomy in the case management relationship.

This study examines the effects of connection and autonomy in the client-case manager relationship on treatment participation, satisfaction with case management, and satisfaction with social life. Three-month case manager ratings of connection were positively correlated with 9-month treatment participation. Six-month client and case manager ratings of connection were positively correlated with improvements in all three outcomes at nine months. Within this time frame, autonomy was positively correlated with treatment participation and satisfaction with case management and negatively correlated with satisfaction with social life. These findings suggest that balancing connection and autonomy in different ways is important in the case management relationship.