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

Given the importance now accorded to vocational outcomes for persons w ith psychiatric disabilities, correct predictions of work, status and work expectations are needed for rehabilitation programs. However, pas t 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 funct ioning, self-perception, and service measures. Multivariate analyses s howed that the dependent variables were predicted by work attitudes, f requency of family contacts and functioning level; but that demographi c variables contributed more to predicting work, expectations, and ser vice agency and prior hospitalizations more to work status. The implic ations for research and program development in psychiatric rehabilitat ion are discussed.