PSYCHOSOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ACCESSIBILITY FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PARTICIPATION OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN REHABILITATION

The purpose of this study was to examine the association among psychos ocial, cultural, and accessibility factors and participation of Africa n-Americans in the rehabilitation process. One hundred and eighty-six African-Americans with disabilities were recruited from agencies and f acilities in cities throughout the United States. Subjects were catego rized into one of two groups corresponding to whether or not they were currently receiving rehabilitation services. The subjects' histories of level of participation in the rehabilitation process were also obta ined and categorized as periodic, short-term continuous, or long-term continuous. An instrument which contained several measures of psychoso cial, cultural, and accessibility factors, along with measures of reha bilitation participation, was administered to subjects. The results of a discriminant analysis indicated that perception of service provider capability, self-esteem, emotional support, and attitide toward seeki ng and receiving services were significant predictors of whether or no t subjects were in the current rehabilitation group. Whether or not cl ient/service providers were of the same race/ethnic group, perception of service provider capability, attitude toward employment, and percep tions of the rehabilitation process were significant predictors of whe ther or not subjects participated in periodic or more continuous rehab ilitation.