Issue title: 20th Anniversary Issue
Article type: Research Article
Authors: Rollins, Angela L. | Bond, Gary R. | Jones, Amanda M. | Kukla, Marina | Collins, Linda A.
Affiliations: Research Health Scientist, Roudebush VA Medical Center, Assistant Research Professor, Psychology Department, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Director of Research, ACT Center of Indiana, IN, USA | Professor of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, NH, USA | Health Program Manager, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA | Associated Health Postdoctoral Fellow, HSRD Center of Excellence on Implementing Evidence Based Practice, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, IN, USA | Research Assistant, ACT Center of Indiana, Research Assistant, Roudebush VAMC, IN, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Angela L. Rollins, Ph.D., Research Health Scientist, Roudebush VA Medical Center, Assistant Research Professor, Psychology Department, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Director of Research, ACT Center of Indiana, 222 E. Ohio Street, Rm 721, Indianapolis, IN 46205, USA. Tel.: 317 275 8821; Fax: 317 635 9372; E-mail: alrollin@iupui.edu
Abstract: Clients with severe mental illness (SMI) often struggle in their efforts to maintain employment. One cause of early job terminations is interpersonal difficulties in the workplace. This study explored workplace social networks and their relationship with job outcomes and other employment characteristics for people with SMI. Results indicated that clients generally had positive experiences with both supervisors and coworkers. Contrary to our hypothesis, employment model was not associated with better workplace network characteristics. Also contrary to our hypothesis, clients employed in group placements did not differ in workplace network characteristics from those in competitive employment settings. Workplace network characteristics were robustly correlated with job satisfaction, but not strongly related to hourly wages or overall job tenure. Job tenure at the time of the workplace network assessment did show a few modest negative correlations with supervisor and coworker support, indicating declining perceived social network support with increasing job tenure. Study limitations and future directions for research using this methodology are discussed.
Keywords: Social network, supported employment, vocational program, mental illness, social support, job outcome
DOI: 10.3233/JVR-2011-0575
Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 243-252, 2011
