Model testing: examining parent satisfaction.

The purpose of this study was to test a model predicting social-psychological determinants of parent satisfaction with children's mental health services. Model concepts were parents' characteristics, definition of situation, desired services, expectations, met desires, met expectations, and satisfaction. The sample included 120 parents of children, ages 3-18 years, admitted to one of five treatment programs. With minor changes, results of structural equation modeling indicated a good fit between the data and the proposed relationships. The strongest predictor of parent satisfaction was met expectations; however, inclusion of the desire concepts was essential in obtaining a strong, acceptable model fit.