Journal Article Details

Citation:
Li, J.; Rumrill, P.D.; Iwanaga, K.; Zhang, H.; Chan, F.; & Strauser, D.G. (0). Utilizing propensity score matching analysis to examine the effects of postsecondary education on the employment outcomes of young adults with mental illnesses. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 62 (2), 106-114.
Title:
Utilizing propensity score matching analysis to examine the effects of postsecondary education on the employment outcomes of young adults with mental illnesses
Authors:
Li, J.; Rumrill, P.D.; Iwanaga, K.; Zhang, H.; Chan, F.; & Strauser, D.G.
Year:
0
Journal/Publication: 
Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation
Publisher:
Sage Journals
DOI:
Full text:
Peer-reviewed?
Yes
NIDILRR-funded? 
Yes

Structured abstract:

Data collection & analysis:
Data collected through the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration Case Service Report (RSA-911) database in Program Year 2018 for the state VR services programs were used in this study. The database's elements include participants’ demographic information at application, eligibility, order of selection, disability, trial work experience, individual plan for employment, pre-employment transition services, VR services, training services, career services, other services, measurable skill gain, employment, exit, and post-exit outcomes (U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Rehabilitation Services Administration, 2017). The Rehabilitation Services Administration uses these data to assess, support, and evaluate the effectiveness of state VR agencies’ performance.
Findings:
Before the matching procedure, we examined the comparability between the four-year college or university training recipients and the non-recipients on the matching covariates. The results indicated that the two groups were significantly different in their composition (see Table 2). Relatively, there were significantly more female (?2?=?38.22, df?=?1, p?
Conclusions:
Incontrovertible is the fact that Americans who attend and complete college have better employment outcomes than Americans who do not. This study revealed evidence of the effects of college or university training on employment outcomes in a sample of young adults with mental illness, perhaps indicating that postsecondary education may serve as an important equalizer to level employment opportunities and outcomes for young workers with psychiatric disabilities. State VR counselors should consider postsecondary education as an important service that leads to success in competitive integrated employment settings for the growing and industrious population of jobseekers with mental illness. To that end, particular emphasis should be placed on mental health supports during college and the psychosocial features of the work environment after graduation.
Interventions:
Vocational rehabilitation