Affiliations: Department of Cognitive Sciences and Education,
University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy | School of Rehabilitation, Université de
Sherbrooke, Centre for Action in Work Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation,
Longueuil, QC, Canada
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Patrizia Villotti, Department of
Cognitive Sciences and Education, University of Trento, Matteo del Ben 5/b,
I-38068 Rovereto (TN), Italy. Tel.: +39 464 80 8136; Fax: +39 464 80 8102;
E-mail: patrizia.villotti@unitn.it
Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this study was to enhance understanding of
the impact of individual and environmental variables on job satisfaction among
people with severe mental illness employed in social enterprises. Participants: A total of 248 individuals with severe mental illness
employed by social enterprises agreed to take part in the study. Methods: We used logistic regression to analyse job satisfaction. A
model with job satisfaction as the dependent variable, and both individual
(occupational self-efficacy and severity of symptoms perceived) and
environmental (workplace) factors (provision of workplace accommodations,
social support from co-workers, organizational constraints) as well as external
factors (family support) as predictors, was tested on the entire sample. Results: All findings across the study suggest a significant
positive impact of both individual and environmental factors on job
satisfaction. People with higher occupational self-efficacy who were provided
with workplace accommodations and received greater social support were more
likely to experience greater job satisfaction. Conclusions: These results suggest that certain features of social
enterprises, such as workplace accommodations, are important in promoting job
satisfaction in people with severe mental illness. Further studies are
warranted to expand knowledge of the workplace features that support employees
with severe mental illness in their work integration process.
Keywords: Partnerships, mental disorders, environmental characteristics, social firms, vocational outcomes
