Research Database: Article Details

Citation:  Sá-Fernandes, L., Jorge-Monteiro, M. F., & Ornelas, J., (2018). Empowerment promotion through competitive employment for people with psychiatric disabilities. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 49 (2), 259-263.
Title:  Empowerment promotion through competitive employment for people with psychiatric disabilities
Authors:  Sá-Fernandes, L., Jorge-Monteiro, M. F., & Ornelas, J.,
Year:  2018
Journal/Publication:  Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation
Publisher:  IOS Press
DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-180971
Full text:  https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-vocational-rehabil...    |   PDF   
Peer-reviewed?  No
NIDILRR-funded?  No

Structured abstract:

Background:  Despite ample research about empowerment or supported employment in the mental health field, research about people with psychiatric disabilities in competitive employment and its impact on personal empowerment using standardized measurements needs to be expanded.
Purpose:  This study examined if competitive employment contributes to a positive impact on personal empowerment among 55 people with psychiatric disabilities who participate in community based mental health organizations.
Data collection and analysis:  The current sample was created from a larger study with the purpose of obtaining a homogenous set of participants based on the employment status criteria. Participants filled out the Portuguese version of the empowerment scale and hierarchical regression analysis was used to study if participants’ employment status was a predictor of personal empowerment.
Findings:  The conducted analyses demonstrated that competitive employment was related to higher levels of empowerment, and that the empowerment dimension of power-based interpersonal relationships was significantly associated with being at work.
Conclusions:  Our results suggest that addressing consumers’ working needs through supported employment services has the potential to enhance consumers’ personal empowerment and improve community life.

Disabilities served:  Anxiety disorder
Bi-polar
Chronic mental illness
Depression
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Personality disorders
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Schizophrenia
Interventions:  Supported employment
Outcomes:  Full-time employment