Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T11:35:48.110Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Wellbeing and Competitive Employment for Adults With an Acquired Physical or Psychological Disability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 February 2012

Cheryl C. Gilbert  and
Ian Hay
Cheryl C. Gilbert
Affiliation:
Griffith University, Australia
Ian Hay
Affiliation:
The University of Queensland, Australia
Get access

Abstract

The study utilised a quasi-experimental design and quota criteria sample of 38 adults with an acquired physical or psychological disability plus a history of long-term unemployment. At the end of the six months' rehabilitation intervention half of the participants of both disability groups were employed, which challenges the notion that adults with a psychological disability are less likely to achieve re-employment. It is important to note that similar numbers of males and females were employed, for women with a disability have historically been overrepresented in the unemployed numbers and underrepresented in rehabilitation programs. The study demonstrated that individuals with an acquired disability who reported higher self-confidence scores for gaining employment were 75% more likely to be later employed. There was a 29% improvement in General Health Questionnaire-28 scores at the end of the intervention. The program is reported and service delivery and wellbeing issues are discussed.

Type
Articles
Information
The Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling , Volume 10 , Issue 1 , January 2004 , pp. 27 - 35
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Agresti, A. (1996). An introduction to categorical data analysis. New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
Anthony, W.A., & Blanch, A. (1987). Supported employment for persons who are psychiatrically disabled. Psychosocial Rehabilitation Journal, 11, 5–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anthony, W.A., Cohen, M.R., & Farkas, M.D. (1990). Psychiatric rehabilitation. Boston, MA: Boston University Centre for Psychiatric Rehabilitation.Google Scholar
Bond, G.R. (1992). Vocational rehabilitation. In Liberman, R.R (Ed.), Handbook of psychiatric rehabilitation (pp. 244–275). New York: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Braitman, A., Counts, P., Davenport, R., Zurlinden, B., Rogers, M., Clauss, J., et al. (1995). Comparison of barriers to employment for unemployed and employed clients in a case management program: An exploratory study. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 19, 3–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brillhart, B., & Johnson, K. (1997). Motivation and the coping process of adults with disabilities: A qualitative study. Rehabilitation Nursing, 22, 249–256.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brodwin, M.G., Sauer, L.J., Hallberg, E., & Goldfarb, H.J. (1996). Stress within the injured worker. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseiing, 27, 13–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burkhead, E.J., Ebener, D.J., & Marini, I. (1996). Humor, coping and adaptation to disability. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counselling, 27, 50–53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Creed, P.A. (1998). Improving the mental and physical health of unemployed people: Why and how? Medical Journal of Australia, 168, 177–178.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Daniels, L., & Roll, D. (1998). Group treatment of social impairment in people with mental illness. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 21, 273–278.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Danley, K.S., Sciarappa, K., & MacDonald-Wilson, K. (1992). Choose-Get-Keep: A psychiatric rehabilitation approach to supported employment. New Directions for Mental Health Services, 53, 87–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
De Vaus, D.A. (2002). Surveys in social research. Crows Nest, Australia: Allen & Unwin.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ellison, M.A., Danley, K.S., Bromberg, C., & Palmer-Erbs, V. (1999). Longitudinal outcome of young adults who participated in a psychiatric vocational rehabilitation program. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 22, 337–341.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gilbert, C.C. (2002). Evaluation of a training programme for unemployed adults with a disability. Unpublished M.Phil thesis, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia.Google Scholar
Goldberg, D., & Williams, P. (1988). A user's guide to the General Health Questionnaire. Windsor, United Kingdom: NFER-Nelson.Google Scholar
Hammer, A.L. (1988). Manual for the Coping Resources Inventory (Research ed.). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.Google Scholar
Hanson-Mayer, T.P. (1984). The workers disability syndrome. Journal of Rehabilitation, 50, 50–54.Google Scholar
Johnson, V.A., Greenwood, R., & Schriner, K.F. (1988). Work performance and work personality: Employer concerns about workers with disabilities. Rehabiiitation Counseling Bulletin, 32, 50–57.Google Scholar
Joseph Rowntree Foundation Findings. (2000). Enduring economic exclusion: Disabled people, income and work. York, UK: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.Google Scholar
Kidd, M.P., Sloane, P.J., & Ferko, I. (2000). Disability and the labour market: An analysis of British males. Journal of Health Economics, 19(6), 961–981.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Krupa, T., Lagarde, M., Carmichael, K., Hougham, B., & Stewart, H. (1998). Stress, coping and the job search process: The experience of people with psychiatric disabilities in supported employment. Work, 11, 155–162.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lehman, A.F. (1995). Vocational rehabilitation in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 21, 645–656.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lewis, P.K. (1990). Factors related to employment among chronically mentally-ill patients. Dissertation Abstracts International, 51, 1534-B.Google Scholar
Marshak, L.E., Bostick, D., & Turton, L.J. (1990). Closure outcomes for clients with psychiatric disabilities served by the vocational rehabilitation system. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 33, 247–250.Google Scholar
Mathers, CD., & Schofield, D.J. (1998). The health consequences of unemployment: The evidence. Medical Journal of Australia, 168, 178–182.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McColl, M.A., & Skinner, H. (1995). Assessing inter-and intrapersonal resources: Social support and coping among adults with a disability. Disability and Rehabilitation, 17, 24–34.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McLean, J. (2003). Employees with long-term illness or disabilities in the UK social service work-force. Disability and Society, 18, 51–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miller, M. (1994). The role of the human spirit in recovery from injury. Occupational Health and Safety, 63, 167–170.Google ScholarPubMed
Mowbray, CT., Bybee, D., Harris, S.N., & McCrohan, N. (1995). Predictors of work status and future work orientation in people with a psychiatric disability. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 19, 17–28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nosek, M.A., Hughes, R.B., Swedlund, N., Taylor, H.B., & Swank, P. (2003). Self-esteem and women with disability. Social Science and Medicine, 56, 1737–1747.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Brien, G.E., Feather, N.T., & Kabanoff, B. (1994). Quality of activities and the adjustment of unemployed youth. Australian Journal of Psychology, 46, 29–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peckham, J., & Muller, J. (1999). Employment and schizophrenia: Recommendations to improve employability for individuals with schizophrenia. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 22, 399–402.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pernice, R. (1997). Employment attitudes and mental health of long-term unemployed people with disabilities: Implications for rehabilitation counselors. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 28, 21–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rang, H.P., Dale, M.M., & Ritter, J.M. (1999). Pharmacology (4th ed.). Edinburgh, UK: Churchill Livingstone.Google Scholar
Ravesloot, C., Seekins, T., & Walsh, J. (1997). A structural analysis of secondary conditions experienced by people with physical disabilities. Rehabilitation Psychohgy, 42, 3–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Regenold, M., Sherman, M.F., & Fenzel, M. (1999). Getting back to work: Self-efficacy as a predictor of employment outcome. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 22, 361–367.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Turner, R.J., & McLean, P.D. (1989). Physical disability and psychological distress. Rehabilitation Psychology, 34, 225–242.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Veroff, J., Feld, S., & Gurin, G. (1962). Dimensions of subjective adjustment. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychohgy, 64, 192–199.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Westmorland, M.G., Zeytinoglu, I., Pringle, P., Denton, M., & Chouinard, V. (1998). The elements of a positive workplace environment: Implications for persons with disabilities. Work: A journal of Prevention, Assessment and Rehabilitation, 10, 109–117CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed