Affiliations: [a]
California State University, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| [b]
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| [c]
Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| [d] Vocational Economics, Inc., Louisville, KY, USA
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Antonio Reyes, Ph.D., Charter College of Education, King Hall C1064, California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA. Tel.: +1 424 330 8450; E-mail: areyes119@calstatela.edu.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Given the importance of working alliance to client engagement and outcomes in vocational rehabilitation, there is a need to better understand predictors of the client counselor relationship. Research has shown the tripartite efficacy model as a way of understanding working alliance in various contexts but has never been examined in vocational rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE:This study evaluates the relationship among tripartite efficacy beliefs constructs (self-efficacy, other-efficacy, and relation-inferred self-efficacy [RISE]), working alliance, and engagement for 350 clients receiving state vocational rehabilitation services. METHODS:Researchers used a path analysis to assess the hypothesis that the tripartite efficacy model would predict client engagement through its impact on working alliance. RESULTS:The hypothesized model had a close fit. Other-efficacy and RISE beliefs had significant positive direct effects on working alliance and indirect effects on client engagement. Self-efficacy had a significant negative direct effect on working alliance and client engagement. CONCLUSIONS:The study supports the tripartite efficacy beliefs model as a way of better understanding client perceptions of working alliance in vocational rehabilitation.
Keywords: Vocational rehabilitation, self-efficacy, working alliance, engagement, tripartite efficacy beliefs
