A COMPARISON OF SELF-ESTEEM AND JOB-SATISFACTION OF ADULTS WITH MILD MENTAL-RETARDATION IN SHELTERED WORKSHOPS AND SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT

A sample of 200 adults with mild mental retardation was assessed on ov erall job satisfaction and self-esteem using the Vocational Program Ev aluation Profile and the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory. The subjec ts worked either in a sheltered workshop or in a supported employment setting. Results indicated that there was a significant relationship b etween self-esteem and job satisfaction for both groups of subjects. I n addition, subjects who worked in supported employment reported signi ficantly higher levels of job satisfaction. There was also an interact ion between place of residence and place of employment when looking at self-esteem; those who lived in a semi-independent home and worked in supported employment employed reported the highest levels of self-est eem. These results were discussed in terms of the social validity of s upported-employment for persons with mild mental retardation.