Affiliations: [a] Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Department of Social Medicine, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| [b] Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, Research School Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Inge Houkes, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Department of Social Medicine, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 43 3882878; Fax: +31 43 3884169; E-mail: inge.houkes@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
Note: [†] Deceased.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Worldwide, the employment rate of people with visual impairments (PVIs) is lower than that of the general working-age population. To improve the employment rate of this group, there is a need for knowledge about differences in modifiable factors between working and non-working PVIs. OBJECTIVE:To identify modifiable factors associated with participation on the competitive labour market of PVIs. Based on the findings, we aim to develop an individual assessment instrument for determining the odds of labour market success of PVIs. METHODS:Data were collected among 299 PVIs by means of a cross-sectional telephone survey based on existing (validated) and self-developed scales and items. Logistic regression analysis was used to find the strongest predictors of the dichotomous outcome of ‘having paid work on the competitive labour market’ (yes/no). RESULTS:We found three personal non-modifiable factors (level of education, comorbidity, level of visual impairment) and three modifiable factors (mobility, acceptance and optimism) to be significantly (p < 0.05) associated with having paid work. CONCLUSIONS:The factors of optimism, acceptance and mobility should be included in an individual assessment instrument which can provide PVIs and their job coaches with good starting points for improving the labour market situation of the PVIs.
