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This paper summarizes the development and validation of the Revised Affirmative to Problem Parenting Scale (R-APPS) using a sample of 643 adults with disabilities. Results of exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, correlations, and reliability estimates reveal sound psychometric structure for a 4-factor scale distinguishing problem parenting practices.

This study investigated the impact of recovery capital (RC) on community integration (CI) among a sample of adults formerly incarcerated. A sample of 78 participants who identified as being in recovery from substance use disorder and having been previously incarcerated completed a survey asking about their RC and CI. Results of a hierarchical regression model investigating the relationship between RC and CI revealed a significant model, accounting for 27% of the variance in CI. Results provide support for considering aspects of RC, particularly social support, when facilitating reentry and reintegration for individuals who have experienced incarceration. Results also reveal that people who identified as multiracial reported significantly lower levels of CI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data were collected from 47 college students with disabilities at a large Midwestern university using the Career Thoughts Inventory ([CTI]; Sampson, Peterson, Lenz, Reardon, Saunders, 1996) and the Positive and Negative Affect Scale ([PANAS]; Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988). Initial results revealed no significant differences for CTI total, Decision-Making Confusion (DMC), and Commitment Anxiety (CA) subscales when compared to the normative samples of the CTI. However, significant differences were found for the External Conflict (EC) subscale. Results further indicated that individuals who were identified as having the highest level of dysfunctional career thoughts were also found to have significantly higher levels of negative affect and lower levels of positive affect. Overall, the results of this pilot study provide support for the need to address career thoughts in college students with disabilities and the impact of affect on their career decision-making process.

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly influenced all aspects of daily life. Especially hard hit during the pandemic are typically marginalized individuals, including individuals with chronic illnesses and disabilities. Vocational rehabilitation counselors are uniquely positioned to support these individuals both during and after the pandemic. The Illinois Work and Well-Being Model can be utilized by researchers and counselors supporting marginalized individuals as an effective theoretical framework to address anticipated COVID-19-related challenges. In this article we also provide insights into three potential issues that may be more likely to occur as a result of the pandemic. These issues are a delay in career development, an extended absence from work, and experiences of both primary and secondary trauma. We conclude by providing future directions for research that could impact the lives of individuals directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Keywords: COVID-19, Illinois Work and Weil-Being Model, trauma, employment, Employment and earning a paycheck can have tangible and intangible rewards. Positive rewards or outcomes would include the opportunity for working age adults (ages 18 to 65) to provide for [...]

This article presents a contextual career development framework, the Illinois Work and Well-Being Model (IW2M), as an intervention schematic that can be applied to facilitate vocational rehabilitation outcomes for people with asthma. The framework encompasses the interaction of contextual and career development domains to improve participation in the areas of work, society, community, and home. A discussion of the model's implications regarding vocational rehabilitation services and research is offered, with the overall goal of reinforcing career development as the foundation of vocational rehabilitation services for people with asthma and other emerging disabling conditions. Keywords: Asthma, Vocational Rehabilitation, Career Development, Illinois Work and Well Being Model, It is well documented that paid employment is beneficial to the physical health, psychological well-being, and quality of life of people with and without disabilities, including people with chronic health [...]

This study examined the extent to which physical and emotional functioning mediated the relationship between psychological well-being (PERMA) and the career domains of the Illinois Work and Well-Being Model (IW2M) in a group of young adult central nervous system (CNS) cancer survivors. The participants consisted of 81 young adult survivors of childhood CNS cancer aged between 18 and 24 years old (M = 18.90, SD = .97). Participants were asked to fill out the research packet containing demographic information and research instruments. The PROCESS macro written by Hayes was used to estimate the total, direct, and indirect effects of psychological well-being on job awareness, job acquisition and job maintenance through emotional and physical functioning. Study finding suggest that physical and emotional functioning have a differential impact on specific career development factors and that psychological well-being was also found to have a significant impact on each of the three career development domains. Overall, the study findings are consistent with the IW2M that indicates that an individual's perceived level of functioning impacts career development factors and that positive psychology constructs, such as psychological well-being, may also be implicated in perceived functioning and the career development process of young adult CNS cancer survivors. Career and vocational interventions targeting young adult CNS cancer survivors should focus on increasing psychological well-being as well as increasing physical and emotional functioning. In addition, career interventions should consider the differential impact across the career domain., Researchers are increasingly interested in understanding how treatment-related late effects including psychosocial, physical, and emotional concerns impact childhood cancer survivors' social functioning and quality of life. Engaging in career development [...]

Background: Individuals returning to the wider community from incarceration face many re‐entry barriers, including stigmatising beliefs regarding past criminal record, that have impact on health and re‐entry. Understanding the development and impact of self‐stigma on health can inform re‐entry and rehabilitation services. Aims: The two aims of this study were first, to evaluate a previously established model of self‐stigma applied to individuals who have experienced incarceration and, secondly, to study the impact of self‐stigma on physical and mental health as well as community integration on re‐entry. Methods: This is a cross‐sectional study of 129 formerly incarcerated adults recruited using an online platform and asked to complete online rating scales about self‐stigmatisation, health and sense of community integration. Repeated‐measures analysis of variance, correlation analysis, and path analyses were used to evaluate the model. Results: There was support for the four distinct stages of self‐stigmatisation apparent in mental health research. There was a relationship between self‐stigma harm and sense of community integration, mediated by mental but not physical health status scores. Conclusion: Our findings add to work on self‐stigmatisation in the field of mental health by showing that the concept appears relevant and appears in similar staging among formerly incarcerated individuals and that self‐stigmatisation is likely to be important for their community reintegration. Our sample was not typical of the wider prison population for race and gender distribution, in particular having fewer than expected those minority groups likely to be especially vulnerable to stigmatisation by others. Our findings nevertheless suggest that further, preferably, longitudinal research on self‐stigma to enable better understanding of pathways could substantially help treatment and rehabilitation of individuals after release from a correctional facility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Employers are increasingly seeking a competitive advantage through targeted hiring of people with disabilities. We conducted several case studies to learn more about companies that led in creating their own disability diversity initiatives. OBJECTIVE: In this article, we share insights emerging from case studies conducted across seven companies. We illustrate the motives, processes, and outcomes of these initiatives. METHODS: This study is built on the previously published case studies conducted across seven companies. We applied elements of consensual qualitative research (CQR) for the data collection and analyses before performing an in-depth qualitative content analysis using the data coded for each company, looking for commonalities and differences. RESULTS: Although practices differed, all companies experienced noted benefits. Committed leadership and complementary company values facilitated successful outcomes for initiatives. The strength or salience of disability-inclusive actions and practices appeared to moderate outcomes related to company performance, employee perceptions of the company, and cohesiveness. CONCLUSION: Company disability initiatives can yield positive impacts on company performance and culture. The practices we identified and their positive outcomes serve as beacons to other organizations that recognize disability as a valued part of company diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family of origin relationships are an important influence on career decision-making. The current study investigates the relationship between family cohesion, expressiveness and conflict and dysfunctional career thoughts. The Family Environment Scale-Form R (Moos & Moos, 2009) measured the family environment and the Career Thoughts Inventory (Sampson, Peterson, Lenz, Reardon, & Saunders, 1996) measured dysfunctional career thoughts. Participants were undergraduate students at a large Southern University. The results found that higher levels of family conflict and lower levels of family expressiveness were associated with higher levels of decision-making confusion, commitment anxiety, and external conflict. Implications for career counselors are discussed.

This paper summarizes the development and validation of the Revised Affirmative to Problem Parenting Scale (R-APPS) using a sample of 643 adults with disabilities. Results of exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, correlations, and reliability estimates reveal sound psychometric structure for a 4-factor scale distinguishing problem parenting practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnosis and treatment of childhood brain tumor have detrimental effects on physical, neurocognitive, psychological, and social functioning that lasts into adulthood and effects quality of life (QOL). To address diminished QOL, an Internet-based behavioral activation (BA) intervention was developed. Behavioral activation aims to increase activities and behaviors likely to improve thoughts, mood, and QOL. Participants included 127 young adult survivors of childhood brain tumor (SCBT) randomized into the experimental group (n= 64) or the waitlist control group (n= 63). The dependent variables included: life satisfaction, stress, and activation and were assessed with a two-way mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results revealed a significant interaction between the intervention and time on life satisfaction, F(1, 125)=4.793, p = 0.03. There were no significant main effects over time for perceived stress and activation. Findings offer initial evidence that BA can be delivered over the internet and that Internet-delivered BA can have a positive effect on the QOL of young adult SCBT. Internet-based BA interventions can serve as a resource for young adult SCBT who desire to boost their mood and QOL. Behavioral activation (BA) is aimed at increasing positively reinforcing overt behaviors that are likely to promote improved thoughts, mood, and quality of life (QOL). Results indicated study participants in the experimental group demonstrated a significant gain in life satisfaction compared to the control group after receiving the Internet-based BA intervention; and provides support that the intervention was associated with positive changes across time. Findings offer initial evidence that BA can be delivered over the internet and that Internet-delivered BA can have a positive effect on the QOL of young adult survivors of childhood brain tumor (SCBT). Internet-based BA interventions can serve as a resource for young adult SCBT who desire to boost their mood and QOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Identify barriers to career development and employment from both the survivor and parent perspective. Method: Young adult survivors (N = 43) and their parents participated in focus groups to elicit information regarding perceptions regarding career development and employment. Results: Perceptions of both the young adults and parents indicate that there is a significant need for comprehensive career and employment services targeted for young adult central nervous system cancer survivors. Conclusions: Findings provide initial evidence and support for the need to incorporate career and vocational services into psychosocial treatment programs. More research is needed in this area to gain an understanding of the specific career and vocational needs and to further explore how the interaction between the young adults and their parents impact vocational outcomes.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between vocational identity, community integration, positive and negative affect, and satisfaction with life in a group of young adult central nervous system (CNS) cancer survivors. Participants in this study included 45 young adult CNS cancer survivors who ranged in age from 18 to 30 years (mean = 22, SD = 3.62), with a mean age at diagnosis of 8.8 years. Four standardized instruments were used to assess the individual's affect, satisfaction with life, vocational identity, and self-perceived level of community integration. Pearson correlation analyses were carried out to examine the relationships between the satisfaction with life and positive and negative affect, vocational identify, and community integration. A hierarchical linear regression was then performed to determine how well these variables predict satisfaction with life among CNS cancer survivors. Significant positive correlations were found between life satisfaction and positive affect (r = 0.423, P less than 0.01), as well as life satisfaction and community integration (r = -505, P less than 0.001). A positive correlation between life satisfaction and vocational identity was only marginally significant (r = 0.312, P less than 0.05). Regression results indicate that the model explained 29% of the variance with community integration making a unique contribution. The largest contribution of this study is that the findings provide initial evidence that addressing vocational identity and community integration may be important constructs in improving young adult CNS survivors' overall levels of satisfaction with life. These constructs have not been typically addressed in psychosocial cancer treatment programs. (Contains 3 tables.)

This study investigated psychometric properties of the Revised Developmental Work Personality Scale (RDWPS). Results yielded a 14-item three-factor model that aligns with the original DWPS and fits the data very well. RDWPS scores were useful in predicting the resolution of Erikson's fourth stage of development, indicating construct validity. (Contains 1 figure and 7 tables.)

Individuals with disabilities experience disproportionate rates of unemployment and underemployment when compared to individuals without disabilities. Furthermore, health functioning impacts career development and employment across multiple life contexts. To build on what is known regarding the relationships between functioning and career development, this study focuses on delineating how varying aspects of functioning differentially impact specific areas of career development. Based on data collected from 674 individuals with disabilities in the United States this study investigated the relationship between individual health functioning and the following three core components of career development: vocational identity, work personality, and work adjustment. Findings illuminate important differences across dimensions of functioning that impact career development. Results suggest that a multidimensional approach to career development would be most efficacious in supporting the functioning of individuals with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors investigated the relationship between the variables of work engagement, developmental work personality, and academic effort in a sample of college students. This study provides evidence for the hypothesized positive relationship between academic effort, engagement, and work personality. When gender was controlled, the Work Tasks subscale of the Developmental Work Personality Scale (Strauser & Keim, 2002) made the largest contribution to predicting academic effort. Engagement also made a significant contribution to the model. For men, work personality seems to be more relevant concerning academic effort, whereas for women, engagement may be more important. A discussion of the constructs of work engagement and developmental work personality is included.

With the continued lower employment rate for persons with disabilities, researchers are focusing more on barriers to employment that reach beyond functional impairment. Personality and self-efficacy have consistently been important factors when considering employment outcomes for persons without disability; less is known about these factors as they relate to job tenure in samples of people with disabilities. A sample of 56 individuals eligible for vocational rehabilitation services was used to investigate the relationship among personality, work behavior efficacy, and length of prior employment. Results of this study revealed that work behavior efficacy and personality are related to length of prior employment. Personality was found to account for a significant amount of variance in work behavior efficacy, and personality was a stronger predictor of length of prior employment over work behavior efficacy. Specifically, the personality trait "openness" significantly contributed to length of prior employment, and "openness" and "neuroticism" significantly contributed to length of prior employment among persons with low education. A discussion of the dynamic nature of personality as it relates to persons with disabilities and employment is included. (Contains 4 tables.)

Vocational rehabilitation (VR) professionals are critical partners in the transition process for students with disabilities; therefore, they are required to develop transition service delivery proficiencies. VR professional perceptions of transition competencies are seldom examined due to the perception that transition falls mainly on school-based professionals. In this study, VR professionals from three states were surveyed on their perceptions regarding transition competencies. Specifically, seven transition domain areas (i.e., "Providing Career Planning and Counseling, Providing Career Preparation Experiences, Facilitating Allocation of Resources, Promoting Access and Opportunity for Student Success, Conducting Program Improvement Activities, Building and Maintaining Collaborative Partnerships," and "Promoting Nonprofessional Supports and Relationships") were examined and reported across importance, preparedness, and frequency. Results showed that importance rankings were rated very high overall across all competencies (mu = 3.42). Preparedness was the next highest overall rating (mu = 2.77), and frequency in performing transition competencies was the lowest (mu = 2.55). Paired t tests also showed a significant difference between each of the pairs of ratings. In addition, the findings indicated that although all domains were identified as very important, respondents did not indicate they were as prepared or participated as frequently in these transition activities. Individual domain rankings and rationale as well as implications for practice are also discussed. (Contains 1 figure and 4 tables.)

This study examines the sex differences in the perception of working alliance and the perceptions of optimism regarding future employment and job satisfaction with adult cancer survivors receiving vocational rehabilitation services. No significant differences were found between males and females in terms of the three components of the working alliance. However, examination of effect sizes indicated that the females reported higher levels of tasks (d=0.40) and goals (d=0.55) than their male counterparts. The three components of working alliance explained 60% of the variance with bonds ([beta]=0.865) making a significant and unique contribution to employment prospects. Working alliance was not associated with current job satisfaction in the employed group. Overall results of this study suggest that working alliance seems to be an important variable in the vocational outcomes for cancer survivors receiving vocational services.

Access to health insurance is one of the critical aspects of securing employment for people with disabilities. This study investigated whether vocational rehabilitation consumers secured employment with an employer who offered health insurance at similar rates to workers in the general population. In general, the results show that vocational rehabilitation consumers had significantly lower health insurance access rates than workers in the general population. Implications for rehabilitation counselors are discussed. (Contains 1 table.)

Developing an evidence-based practice approach has been advocated for in rehabilitation counseling research. However, the evidence-based practice approach which focuses primarily on intervention efficacy is theoretically flawed which limits its application to rehabilitation counseling research. Specifically, evidence-based practice research does not address the important construct of external validity. In this paper, the RE-AIM evaluation model is introduced as a comprehensive model that takes into account both internal and external validity. After the model is introduced, the authors provide a brief example of how the RE-AIM model can be applied to rehabilitation counseling research. Recommendations for rehabilitation counseling research, funding organizations, and journal editors are provided. (Contains 4 tables and 1 figure.)

Rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) are high. Many survivors elect to leave abusive relationships and seek treatment to address the abusive cycle and psychiatric symptoms that may result. Programs to assist survivors often include an employment component. This article discusses the use of the Developmental Work Personality Scale (D. R. Strauser & J. Keim, 2002) in assessment and counseling, to assist survivors of IPV with obtaining successful employment outcomes. (Contains 1 figure.)

This study builds on existing research investigating the stigma-reducing strategies specific to rehabilitation service providers by comparing differences in education levels and degree of contact among rehabilitation service providers. Rehabilitation service providers with master's level and bachelor level education showed significant differences in their stigmatizing tendencies on subscales of controllability and stability for different categories of disabilities. Specifically, service providers with a master's degree had more stigmatizing beliefs for psychosis and cocaine addiction, compared with service providers with a bachelor's degree. Service providers with either a bachelor's degree or master's degree reported lower levels of stigma overall for five of the six categories of disability compared with their community college student counterparts. No differences were found for length of time working with persons with psychiatric disabilities.

A national study of rehabilitation counseling graduate students and state-federal rehabilitation counselors investigated whether there were differences between (a) what graduate students preferred to do upon graduation and what they believed vocational rehabilitation counselors did, (b) what graduate students preferred to do upon graduation and what vocational rehabilitation counselors perceived they did, and (c) what students believed vocational rehabilitation counselors did and what counselors perceived they did. Results indicated graduate students preferred to spend more time on counseling and less time on case management than state-federal vocational rehabilitation counselors perceived they did. Graduate students were accurate in their estimates of the amount of time vocational rehabilitation counselors stated they spent on counseling and inaccurate in their estimates of time spent on case management. Implications for recruitment and retention of rehabilitation counseling graduate students are discussed. (Contains 2 tables.)