PREDICTORS OF WORK STATUS AND FUTURE WORK ORIENTATION IN PEOPLE WITH A PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITY

Given the importance now accorded to vocational outcomes for persons with psychiatric disabilities, correct predictions of work, status and work expectations are needed for rehabilitation programs. However, past research has provided inconsistent results. Using a large sample of persons with psychiatric disabilities, the present study investigated current work status and expectations about work in relation to a wide array of demographic, work history, psychiatric status community functioning, self-perception, and service measures. Multivariate analyses showed that the dependent variables were predicted by work attitudes, frequency of family contacts and functioning level; but that demographic variables contributed more to predicting work, expectations, and service agency and prior hospitalizations more to work status. The implications for research and program development in psychiatric rehabilitation are discussed.