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This study investigated the effect of demographic characteristics and the working alliance between counselor and consumer on employment outcomes for rural and urban consumers with disabilities. A sample of 2031 vocational rehabilitation consumers from urban and rural areas were compared. Results indicated that both urban and rural consumers who had more severe disabilities, were older, and had a weaker working alliance with their counselor experienced poorer employment outcomes. Rural consumers with a severe disability were at a greater employment disadvantage than their urban counterparts. Educational level contributed significantly to predicting employment status for urban participants but not for rural participants. Implications for services are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has suggested that an individual's career thoughts play a significant role in what an individual perceives as viable career options and how an individual makes specific career choices. This study examined the differences in career thoughts between 63 individuals with a disability and a convenience sample of 149 college students in a southern urban university. The results of independent sample t-tests suggested no significant differences between the groups on all four scales of the Career Thoughts Inventory. The authors discuss effect sizes, several possible explanations for the results, and limitations to the study. The results would also suggest that rehabilitation professionals working with individuals with disabilities should not assume that individuals with disabilities have a higher level of dysfunctional career thoughts. Instead, rehabilitation professionals should individually analyze an individual's career thoughts to determine implications for career development and rehabilitation planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine Hershenson's theory of work adjustment by examining the relationship between work personality and work competencies. Specifically, this study examined the theoretical link and the reciprocal effect between the domains of work personality and work competencies, and the impact of certain demographic variables on work personality and work competencies. Participants included 104 job placement service recipients in a large Southern urban area. Findings showed that higher levels of work personality predicted an internal locus of control and higher job-related self-efficacy. The number of jobs a person had held was correlated with work personality and work persistence was correlated with education. Findings also indicated that individuals whose parents/guardians worked while they were growing up had more internalized locus of control. Results are discussed in light of current literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key factor in the development of an effective relationship between the client and counselor is the development of a strong working alliance (Bordin, 1979). It is pertinent to recognize the consumer's subjective views (Lustig & Crowder, 2000) regarding the impact of the services they receive. In this study, individuals with severe mental illness (N=305) completed a survey that measured their reported level of the working alliance and information related to the outcome measures. Results indicated that employed clients measured stronger on the working alliance than the unemployed clients. Additionally, higher levels of working alliance were associated with higher levels of job satisfaction. Finally, the results indicated that for unemployed clients, the stronger the measured level of working alliance the more positive the clients viewed their employment future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]