Affiliations: [a]
Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA
| [b]
Division of Psychology & Applied Therapies, Lesley University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Brian Stevenson, MIRECC Program (116A), Bedford VA Medical Center, 200 Springs Road, Bedford, MA 01730, USA. Tel.: +1 781 687 3919; E-mail: Brian.Stevenson4@VA.gov.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Increased intensity in job-search behavior is associated with important employment outcomes like job attainment. There is evidence that work hope, and career adaptability are important antecedents of higher job-search intensity. However, there is no evidence that these relationships exist among individuals living with serious mental illness. OBJECTIVE:This study seeks to improve our understanding of factors that contribute to job-search intensity among individuals living with serious mental illness. METHODS:Eighty-five individuals living with serious mental illness completed surveys of demographics, work hope, career adaptability, and job-search intensity. Correlational and regression analysis was used to examine the primary relationships in this study. RESULTS:Education level, employment status, and use of vocational rehabilitation services were background factors related to job-search intensity. Controlling for background factors, regression analysis found that work hope positively predicted job-search intensity, and career adaptability negatively predicted job-search intensity. Our model explained 35%of the variance in job-search intensity. Additionally, individuals who were employed had significantly higher career adaptability than individuals who were unemployed. CONCLUSIONS:Work hope and career adaptability are related to important vocational outcomes among individuals living with serious mental illness.
Keywords: Work hope, career adaptability, job search, mental health, serious mental illness
