Jill Bezyak

Assessing Cognitive and Affective Reactions of Employers Toward People with Disabilities in the Workplace

Introduction The goal of this study was to assess the construct validity of the Affective Reactions subscale of the Disability Questionnaire by analyzing its underlying factor structure. The Affective Reactions subscale consists of 21 items measuring emotional reactions related to working with people with disabilities and contributes to the overall measurement of employers’ attitudes toward individuals with disabilities. Methods The sample included 142 employers in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Exploratory factor analysis was used to examine the factorial structure of the Affective Reactions scale and multiple regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between affective reaction factors and ADA knowledge, perceived reasonableness of workplace accommodations, and experience working with people with disabilities. Results Exploratory factor analysis revealed three underlying attitude dimensions: (a) Negative Cognitive and Affective Reactions, (b) Positive Attitudes toward Accommodations, and (c) Positive Attitudes towards Equal Treatment of People with Disabilities in the Workplace. Multiple regression analysis results indicated that positive attitudes toward people with disabilities in the workplace are associated with positive beliefs about the reasonableness of accommodating people with disabilities in the workplace and positive attitudes are related to higher level of experience working with people with disabilities. Conclusions The construct validity of the Affective Reactions subscale of the Disability Questionnaire is supported by the identification of three underlying attitudinal constructs.

Stages of change and physical activity among individuals with severe mental illness.

OBJECTIVE To apply the constructs of the transtheoretical model (TTM) of change to understand physical activity among individuals with severe mental illness. METHOD Predictions of stages of change of physical activity and self-reported physical activity were investigated among 92 adults with severe mental illness, using cognitive and behavioral processes of change, self-efficacy, and perceived pros and cons of exercise as predictors. RESULTS Separate logistic regression analyses for adjacent pairs of stages indicated that 33% of the variance was accounted for when predicting preparation versus action/maintenance stages, with behavioral processes making a significant unique contribution to prediction. A multiple-regression analysis was conducted to examine prediction of self-reported physical activity on the basis of all of the TTM measures, and the full model accounted for nearly 27% of the variance. CONCLUSION Results suggest that TTM constructs hold promise in understanding physical activity of people with severe mental illness with significant implications for clinical practice and future research.

Employment as a health promotion intervention for persons with multiple sclerosis

OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between employment status (no employment, part-time employment, and full-time employment) and functional disability, health-related quality of life, and life satisfaction of people with MS. METHODS 157 individuals with MS completed a survey packet, including employment status, self-report disability severity, and health-related scales. A series of multivariate analysis of variance was performed to determine the differences between employment groups in health-related outcomes. RESULTS The unemployed group had the highest levels of incapacity and social impairments among the three groups. They also had the lowest physical health-related quality of life and life satisfaction. The part-time employed group had the lowest levels of depression and higher levels of physical activity participation among the three groups of individuals with MS. CONCLUSIONS Employment is significantly related to health-related quality of life, and as a result, it should be considered an important public health intervention for people with MS.

Social-cognitive predictors of readiness to use evidence-based practice: A survey of state vocational rehabilitation counselors

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is receiving increased attention from vocational rehabilitation (VR) professionals as the demand for accountability in rehabilitation and healthcare systems expands. The purpose of the current study was to determine the level of understanding VR professionals have of EBP with specific attention to perceived self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, barriers, and readiness to use evidence in current practice. Data were collected from 396 rehabilitation counselors, who were recruited from four state VR agencies. Results indicate self-efficacy and outcome expectancy were positively associated with readiness to use EBP, and agency barriers and personal barriers were negatively related to readiness to use EBP. These social- cognitive predictors accounted for 44% of the variance in the stages of change scores, and outcome expectancy was the most significant predictor after controlling for the effect of perceived self-efficacy and barriers. To increase EBP among rehabilitation counselors, efforts should focus on increasing self-efficacy and outcome expectancy of EBP.

Individuals with severe mental illnesses have improved eating behaviors and cooking skills after attending a 6-week nutrition cooking class.

OBJECTIVE This study assessed current meal planning/cooking behaviors and dietary intake of individuals with severe mental illnesses and determined differences after a 6-week nutrition education cooking class. METHOD Eighteen individuals with severe mental illnesses participated in a 6-week nutrition education cooking class and completed pre- and posttest 24-hr recalls and a postretrospective survey. Paired samples t tests were used. RESULTS Participants met their calories needs, but they consumed high amounts of sodium and fat and low amounts of fiber. Significant increases in calcium, vitamin D, grains, and fruit occurred from pre- to posttest (p < .05). Self-efficacy in cooking and grocery shopping skills improved. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Participants desire nutrition education programming that includes simple messages, hands-on cooking demonstrations, and health-related incentives. More research is needed to determine how nutrition education programs lead to sustained knowledge and behavior change within this specialized population.

Communities of Practice to Improve Employment Outcomes: A Needs Assessment

Purpose Communities of practice (CoPs) offer a promising strategy to improve communication among various professionals committed to advancing employment outcomes for people with disabilities. CoPs also provide a tool for professionals to share knowledge and resources related to the Americans with Disabilities Act and job accommodations. Methods The current study conducted four focus groups with human resource (HR) professionals and vocational rehabilitation professionals to fully assess the need for this CoP. Coding and memoing were the two data analysis strategies employed in this study. Results Results indicate a strong interest in developing a CoP to assist with employment concerns for people with disabilities. Conclusions HR professionals report a need for current, relevant information on this topic, and participants outline guidelines for developing the CoP and building useful content areas.

Exercise, Diet, and Stress Management as Mediators between Functional Disability and Health-Related Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis.

The main objective of this study was to examine the mediational and moderational effect of exercise, diet, and stress management on the relationship between functional disability and health-related quality of life. Quantitative descriptive research design using multiple regression and correlation techniques was used. Participants were 215 individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Outcome measure used was health-related quality of life as measured by the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12v2). Functional disability and health-promoting behaviors including exercise, diet, and stress management were found to be associated with health-related quality of life. Exercise and stress management (but not diet) were partial mediators between functional disability and health-related quality of life. Exercise was found to be a moderator between functional disability and health-related quality of life. Exercise had a stronger effect on health-related quality of life for individuals with lower functional disability than people with higher functional disability. Health-promoting behaviors are important for health-related quality of life, and health-related quality of life in turn is related to better employment outcomes. Health-promoting behaviors can also mediate the relationship between functional disability and health-related quality of life. Rehabilitation counselors should consider including health promotion interventions in vocational rehabilitation services for individuals with MS.

Disability Diversity Training in the Workplace: Systematic Review and Future Directions.

Purpose Misinformation and negative attitudes toward disability contribute to lower employment rates among people with disabilities. Diversity training is an intervention intended to improve intergroup relations and reduce prejudice. We conducted a systematic review to determine the use and effectiveness of disability diversity training aimed at improving employment outcomes for employees with disabilities. Methods Five databases were searched for peer-reviewed studies of disability diversity training interventions provided within the workplace. Studies identified for inclusion were assessed for quality of methodology. Results Of the total of 1322 articles identified by the search, three studies met the criteria for inclusion. Two of the three articles focused specifically on training to improve outcomes related to workplace injuries among existing employees. The other study provided an initial test of a more general disability diversity training program. Conclusions There is currently a lack of empirically validated diversity training programs that focus specifically on disability. A number of disability diversity trainings and resources exist, but none have been well researched. Related literature on diversity training and disability awareness suggests the possibility for enhancing diversity training practices through training design, content, participant, and outcomes considerations. By integrating best practices in workplace diversity training with existing disability training resources, practitioners and researchers may be able to design effective disability diversity training programs.

Taiwanese Attitudes and Affective Reactions Toward Individuals and Coworkers Who Have Intellectual Disabilities

This study investigated the attitudes of Taiwanese employees toward individuals and their supported coworkers with intellectual disabilities (ID). The findings indicated that the general attitudes of Taiwanese employees toward individuals with ID and their affective reactions toward their coworkers with ID were positive. These discoveries were contrary to previous beliefs that Taiwanese people tended to have societal stigma toward people and coworkers with ID. The outcomes also showed that the participants who had longer work contact with their coworkers with ID tended to have more positive attitudes toward them. Therefore, promoting supported employment trainings and opportunities for qualified people with ID was recommended.

The Use of Evidence-Based Practice Among Japanese Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals

The current study surveyed 94 Japanese vocational rehabilitation (VR) professionals to determine their perceived self-efficacy, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and readiness to use evidence-based practice (EBP). VR counselors in Japan generally see the potential benefits of using EBP to improve psychosocial and employment outcomes of people with disabilities. However, responses related to knowledge and skills were mixed with higher confidence reported in the ability to understand basic concepts of rehabilitation research designs, methods, and statistics but less confidence in the use of research databases to find empirically supported interventions and in their ability to understand the best evidence information from systematic reviews/meta-analyses. Perceived barriers to EBP were identified, including lack of support for the use of EBP from colleagues and senior management in the agency and not having supervisors who are experienced in EBP. As expected, Japanese VR counselors also reported EBP was not effectively used in VR service delivery practices. Implications for practice, education, and professional development are discussed