Showing papers in "Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin in 2022"

A National Study to Assess Validity and Psychometrics of the Short Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6)

Abstract: This study aimed to test the validity and reliability of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-6 (K6) with a nationally representative clinical sample with various mental health disorders. The c...

Exploration of the Effects of Protective Person–Environment Factors Between Functional Impairments and Stress in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis: Mediation and Moderation Analyses:

Abstract: Functional impairments can lead to stress in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). The study examined protective person and environment factors (i.e., positive cognitive stress appraisal, core ...

Vocational Rehabilitation in the COVID-19 Era: The Importance of Supervision

Abstract: The rehabilitation counseling profession, as an essential career, has been facing unforeseen and unprecedented complications as a result of the coronavirus-19 pandemic. As practitioners were required to begin completing their work virtually or using telehealth modalities, it became apparent that may be gaps in preparation for such a shift. It is as yet unknown what implication these changes have on employment rates of people with disabilities, in addition to other markers for independence (e.g., independent living, etc.). Implications of the sudden shift to virtual practice are especially of interest following the changes to the comprehensive system of personnel development legislated by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act reauthorization of 2014. Decreased educational requirements may lead vocational rehabilitation (VR) employees to navigate a national crisis without the essential knowledge domains required for qualified provider status. The current study asked VR personnel to indicate their comfort and preparedness in various areas, in light of the pandemic and virtual service provision ( n = 88). Items were assessed at three levels: Counselor, Agency, and Client. Taken together, the results indicate that the sample feels able to maintain evidence-based services, and that supervisors have been regularly available during this uncertain time. Implications for rehabilitation researchers, supervisors, and educators are discussed.

Evaluating Optimism, Hope, Resilience, Coping Flexibility, Secure Attachment, and PERMA as a Well-Being Model for College Life Adjustment of Student Veterans: A Hierarchical Regression Analysis

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine (a) to what extent demographic covariates, foundational and emerging positive psychology traits (FEPPTs), and PERMA uniquely predict college life adjustment, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and life satisfaction of student military veterans; (b) PERMA as a happiness and well-being model for college life adjustment, HRQOL, and life satisfaction among student veterans; and (c) FEPPTs as predictors of PERMA. In addition, we tested whether total PERMA scores mediate the relationship between service-connected disability and college adjustment. A total of 205 student veterans responded to an online survey. Results revealed that demographic covariates (e.g., service-connected disability), FEPPTs (e.g., optimism), and PERMA (e.g., positive emotion) significantly accounted for college life adjustment, HRQOL, and life satisfaction of student veterans. In addition, a mediation analysis revealed that PERMA partially mediated the relationship between service-connected disability and college life adjustment of student veterans. The results of this study provide empirical supports for the use of PERMA as a comprehensive well-being model of college life adjustment for student veterans.

Brief Report: Participation Among Transition-Aged Youth With Traumatic Brain Injury in the State/Federal Vocational Rehabilitation System:

Abstract: This study aimed to understand the level of participation among transition-aged youth with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the State/Federal Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) System in the context of ...

Disability Affirmation Predicts Employment Among Adults With Visual Impairment and Blindness

Abstract: Empirical research on psychosocial correlates of employment among adults with visual impairment or blindness (VI) is limited, and previous studies involving psychological constructs have reported g...

An Examination of the Relationship of Core Self-Evaluations and Life Satisfaction in College Students With Disabilities:

Abstract: For many students with disabilities, the transition from high school to a postsecondary educational institution can be challenging as they navigate a new environment with new or different supports....

Reducing the Influence of Perceived Stress on Subjective Well-Being of Student Veterans With and Without Disabilities: The Protective Role of Positive Traits and Social Support

Abstract: The transition from the regimented environment of military service to a less structured college lifestyle can be stressful for student veterans with and without disabilities, which highlights the importance of exploring protective person-environmental contextual factors that can help student veterans with and without disabilities manage their stress effectively, leading to enhanced well-being. The purpose of this cross-sectional correlational design study was to examine the role of positive person-environment contextual factors, including hope, resilience, core self-evaluations, and social support, to reduce the influence of perceived stress on the subjective well-being (SWB) of student veterans with and without disabilities. The sample included 205 student veterans (71.7% males; 80.5% White; Mage = 29.32; 39% with service-connected disability). Findings suggested that core self-evaluations and social support partially mediated the relationship between perceived stress and SWB in student veterans with and without disabilities. Implications for clinicians, university counselors, and university staff are also discussed.

The Essential Elements of Customized Employment: Results From a National Survey of Employment Providers

Abstract: Customized employment (CE) is designed to meet the specific needs and interests of individuals with disabilities as well as the needs of the employer by using flexible strategies at every stage of employment. The objective of this study was to ask U.S. rehabilitation providers who implement these services to describe the current status of CE service delivery. An online survey was administered to employment professionals from agencies within the United States. Participants responded to questions on the unique characteristics of Discovery and job development, current use of CE services, and information on their personal and agency demographics. Results indicate that there is agreement among CE providers on critical Discovery and job development activities, which suggests that providers are regularly accessing information to inform their practice. There appears to be a gap between what respondents identify as critical activities and how well they are being implemented. Recommendations for providing CE training for providers and provisions for individuals with disabilities are explored.

Coping Strategies of Women With Long-Term Spinal Cord Injury: The Role of Beliefs About the World, Self-Efficacy, and Disability

Abstract: The present study aimed to investigate the indirect effect of appraisal of disability on the relationship between basic hope and coping strategies in women with long-term spinal cord injury (SCI), taking into account the moderating role of general self-efficacy. A cross-sectional study with 187 women with paraplegia in Poland was conducted. Main outcome measures, the Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (COPE), the Basic Hope Inventory (BHI), Appraisals of Disability Primary and Secondary Scale (ADAPSS), and General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), were used. Our study showed that the strategies most commonly used by participants are seeking emotional support, religion, and acceptance. More than 45% of the respondents revealed average levels of basic hope, 58.82% revealed high levels of general self-efficacy, and most of them assessed their disability as determined resilience while noticing its negative aspects. The indirect effect of disability appraisal on the relationship between basic hope and coping strategies (denial, focus on emotions, seeking emotional support, religion, and acceptance) was confirmed. The moderating role of general self-efficacy in this analysis of mediating was also confirmed. General self-efficacy plays a significant role in explaining the relationship between basic hope and coping strategies mediated by appraisals of disability in women with long-term SCI.

Development and Validation of the Satisfaction With Labor Market Participation Survey

Abstract: Employment is often assumed to be the universally desirable outcome in vocational counseling and research; however, many personal and environmental factors affect individual decisions about the cos...

Service-Connected Disability and Happiness in Student Veterans: A Parallel Mediation Study of PERMA

Abstract: The student veteran population has been growing in higher education, along with the attention to their happiness and well-being. Seligman developed the positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment (PERMA) model to help understand an individual’s happiness, including five pillars: Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationship, Meaning, and Accomplishment. In this study, we aim at evaluating the role of the PERMA model’s five pillars in explaining the relationship between service-connected disability and happiness. Data were collected from 205 student veterans. The result demonstrated that positive emotion and accomplishment mediated the relationship between service-connected disability and happiness. The findings of this study suggest utilizing positive psychology to help student veterans improve happiness, as well as engage in more activities that could potentially increase an individual’s positive emotion and accomplishment, and eventually increase the level of happiness.

Telehealth Assessment in Rehabilitation Counseling During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract: Research has shown that using telehealth for rehabilitation assessment can be an effective approach. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns led to many rehabilitation counselors pivoting to telehealth assessment with their clients. This study explores rehabilitation counselors’ use of rehabilitation assessments and telehealth since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a mixed-methods approach, data from 41 rehabilitation counselors across Australia were analyzed. Participants were asked which measures they used prior to the pandemic, how their use of the measures changed during telehealth, and how their work changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales and the Occupational Search Inventory were the most commonly used tests. Theoretical analysis demonstrated that participants utilized tests based on their usefulness in comprehensive assessment and rehabilitation planning, for engaging the client in the assessment process, out of necessity (mandated tests), and due to attributes of the test the counselor valued. Participants described the impact of COVID-19 on assessment practice demonstrating that despite challenges to telehealth, there were also benefits and that assessment measures could be altered for use in telehealth. Although telehealth had an impact on how rehabilitation counselors provided assessments, many found ways to make it work at a distance.

The Development and Psychometric Validation of the Brief Disability-Related Stress Scale in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract: Disability-related stress is the unique stressful experiences and challenges people with disabilities encounter. The goal of the study was to develop and validate the Brief Disability-Related Stress Scale ( BDRSS) in a sample of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Findings demonstrated that the BDRSS is unidimensional and has good psychometric properties (internal consistency reliability coefficient [Cronbach’s α = .86]). The BDRSS was also found to correlate with the Perceived Stress Scale–10 ( PSS-10; r = .69). Results of this study suggested the potential clinical utility of incorporating the BDRSS in rehabilitation, mental health, and neuropsychology settings to assess stressors experienced by people with MS.

Disability Self-Worth and Positive Personal Meaning in Disability: Correlates of Hope Among U.S. Residents With Physical Disabilities:

Abstract: Research is beginning to indicate that positive disability identity is associated with positive psychosocial outcomes among people with disabilities. Personal disability identity (PDI) refers to se...

Factors Impacting Functioning Level of Cancer Survivors in Turkey

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between demographic variables, personal factors, impairment-related variables, and functioning levels of cancer survivors in Turkey. Data for this study were collected from a major oncology institute and a nonprofit cancer organization in Turkey. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to investigate the sequential effect of demographic variables (i.e., age, gender, income, and education), personal factors (i.e., core self-evaluations, purpose in life, and religiosity), and impairment-related variables (i.e., pain, fatigue, perceived stress, and sleep disturbance) on the functioning level of Turkish cancer survivors (i.e., physical functioning, role functioning, emotional functioning, cognitive functioning, and social functioning). The results indicated that impairment-related variables explained a significant amount of variance in functioning scores above and beyond demographic and personal factors. Pain intensity and perceived stress were most prominent factors impacting functioning levels of Turkish cancer survivors. Pain and stress self-management training, psychotherapy and counseling, physical activity and exercise, and cognitive remediation training are recommended interventions to increase the functioning level and well-being of cancer survivors.

Asian Americans’ Perceived Knowledge of State Vocational Rehabilitation Services for People With Mental Illness

Abstract: Given the significant role of employment on independent living and well-being among individuals with disabilities, such as those with mental illness, it is important to examine the experiences of racially and ethnically diverse cultural groups, including Asian Americans. However, little research focus has been made toward Asian Americans with disabilities in the rehabilitation counseling field. This study examined knowledge of state vocational rehabilitation (VR) services and the perceived importance and likeliness of receiving VR services in a sample of 315 Asian Americans. Survey questions were developed to ask participants’ perceived importance of receiving various VR services provided within state VR agencies and the likeliness of receiving or recommending each service if they or their family members had a mental illness. The results showed that most participants were not familiar with state VR services. Although slightly different patterns were identified in the participants’ importance and likeliness ratings, the top important and preferable service was diagnosis and treatment. The information gathered in this study has important implications for crafting culturally sensitive and effective outreach and marketing strategies in Asian American communities.

The Influence of State-Level Contextual Factors on State/Federal System Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Outcomes for Persons With Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract: The purpose of this exploratory study was to develop a preliminary understanding of the influence of state-level contextual factors predictive of employment outcomes for the U.S. State/Federal Vocational Rehabilitation System (State VR) participants with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Participants were 5,213 individuals with TBI with Individualized Plans for Employment closed during federal Fiscal Year 2016. A four-step hierarchical logistic regression model (5.6% explained variance) containing five demographic, three state-level economic, six state TBI service climate, and nine State VR service variable expenditures correctly classified 57.0% of cases as attaining or not attaining an employment outcome at closure. Significant predictors associated with an employment closure were (a) education, veteran status, and presence of a secondary area of disability impairment; (b) state-level per-capita income; (c) State VR specialized acquired brain injury (ABI)/TBI service and state TBI Implementation Partnership grant funding; and (d) State VR service expenditures on diagnosis and treatment, occupational or vocational training, on-the-job training, job readiness training, transportation, maintenance support, and benefits counseling. The practice, policy, and research implications of these findings are presented.

Factors Affecting Retention Plan Among Faculty of Color in Rehabilitation Counselor Education Programs

Abstract: Although many institutions of higher education have become committed to diversity and have made efforts to recruit faculty of color, the counseling profession has had a long history of underrepresentation of students and faculty of color. This study investigated the relationships between demographic characteristics, perceptions of the academic climate, and the employment continuation plans of tenured and tenure-track faculty of color in accredited, rehabilitation counselor education (RCE) programs. Furthermore, this study aimed to identify which factors best predict the employment continuation plans for this population. Participants were administered the Faculty Retention Questionnaire (FRQ) to examine these relationships. The sample consisted of 63 tenure-track and tenured faculty of color employed by accredited RCE programs. A univariate general linear model found that the demographic characteristics (race, ethnicity, gender, country of origin, and tenure status) did not predict the employment continuation plans of tenure-track and tenured faculty of color in accredited RCE programs. Multiple linear regression analysis was utilized to determine if the regression scores for the perception of academic climate components (role as researcher, tenure/promotion opportunities, workplace conditions, social climate, faculty/student relationships, role clarity, inter-role conflict, and person/role conflict) predicted 28.5% of the variance in the employment continuation plans of faculty of color in RCE programs. Among these, inter-role conflict was the only statistically significant predictor. Findings add to the literature pertaining to the retention of faculty of color in counselor education and suggest retention strategies supportive of faculty of color.

Stability of Psychological Well-being Following a Neurological Event and in the Face of a Global Pandemic

Abstract: This study examined the stability of psychological well-being in people who have experienced a neurological event resulting in focal brain damage. Evidence suggests that psychological well-being is largely stable in healthy adult populations. However, whether such stability exists in neurological patients with acquired brain lesions is an open question. Given the trait-like characteristics of psychological well-being, we hypothesized that psychological well-being would be stable in neurological patients who are in the chronic epoch of recovery (≥3 months after the neurological event). Eighty participants (women = 40; age: M = 56, standard deviation (SD) = 13) completed the Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being (PWBS) twice between 2016 and 2020 (Time 1 [T1] and Time 2 [T2]). The Ryff Scales measure various facets of well-being, including autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. Approximately half of participants completed their T2 assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating an opportunity to investigate the effects of the pandemic on the stability of psychological well-being in a neurological population that may be particularly vulnerable to reduced well-being in this context. Pearson correlations and within-sample t-tests were conducted to examine the stability of self-reported well-being over time. Test–retest correlations ranged from .71 to .87, and no significant differences in well-being emerged across the two time points. Significant correlations between T1 and T2 were also evident in the subsample of participants who completed their second assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings provide evidence that long-term psychological well-being is remarkably reliable and consistent over time in patients who have experienced a major neurological event, even when an unprecedented global event occurred between measurement epochs. Treatment implications of these findings are discussed.

Thinking About the Future: Perceived Barriers and Supports Among Israeli Young Adults With Physical Disabilities

Abstract: Young adults with disabilities tend to have lower rates of employment and career indicators as compared with youth without disabilities. Therefore, understanding the factors that may influence such outcomes is crucial. This study examined the future perceptions of 18 young adults with physical disabilities while focusing on the barriers and supports that may impact their transition into adult life. All participants were living in a rehabilitative student community in southern Israel. They participated in an in-depth semi-structured interview. Data analysis, which was conducted according to an adaptation of the Consensual Qualitative Research method, revealed four major domains: emotions, future life roles, barriers, and supports. Findings emphasized that the participants’ disability was extremely dominant in their future perceptions. In general, they expressed caution and concern about their future. They also tended not to express detailed long-term planning. Their perceptions focused on their future work, future intimate relationships, and the need to manage simultaneously different roles. When addressing their possible barriers and supports, they related both to environmental (e.g., social stigma and community support) and to personal (e.g., low self-esteem and high motivation) factors. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Psychometric Validation of the Brief-COPE Scale in a Sample of Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis: A Brief Report

Abstract: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) must often cope with high levels of stress, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Brief-COPE is commonly used to assess how individuals use different coping strategies to deal with stressful life situations, but its application with people who have MS has not been validated. The purpose of this study was to assess the measurement structure and psychometric properties of the Brief-COPE in a sample of community-dwelling adults with multiple sclerosis, using exploratory factor analysis. Results revealed a three-factor measurement structure: (a) flexible coping, (b) succumbing coping, and (c) substance use coping. Correlations among these three factors and external measures of related concepts provided evidence of the validity of these factors. The Brief-COPE can be incorporated in rehabilitation counseling, mental health, and health care settings to assess coping strategies, assisting people with MS with managing stressful life events during and after the pandemic. Rehabilitation and health researchers can use it to assess the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions aimed to improve coping abilities and mental health of people with MS.

The Intermediary Role of Optimism and Mental Health in the Relationship Between Disability-Related Stress and Life Satisfaction: A Serial Mediation Model

Abstract: Although research has examined the relationship between stress and life satisfaction for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), less is known about the mechanism through which disability-related stress affects life satisfaction. The purpose of the study was to examine the intermediary role of optimism and mental health in the relationship between disability-related stress and life satisfaction in people with MS. In this cross-sectional study, the sample consisted of 373 adults with MS (mean age = 47.77 years; SD = 11.70). Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and a serial mediation analysis were conducted in this study. Our findings suggested that disability-related stress was inversely associated with optimism, mental health, and life satisfaction. Optimism was positively associated with mental health and life satisfaction. Mental health was positively associated with life satisfaction. The serial mediation analysis results suggested that disability-related stress was negatively associated with life satisfaction through optimism and mental health. Our findings provided implications for clinicians to facilitate optimism and mental health promotion for people with MS.

Psychometric Validation of the Scale of Ethnocultural Empathy in a Sample of Undergraduate and Graduate Students in Rehabilitation: A Brief Report

Abstract: Ethnocultural empathy is one of the most important multicultural competencies in counseling psychology. Wang et al. developed the Scale of Ethnocultural Empathy (SEE) for counseling psychology educators as an outcome variable to evaluate multicultural counseling competencies of counselors-in-training. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the measurement structure of the SEE in a sample of undergraduate and graduate students in rehabilitation. Confirmatory factor analysis results indicated that the four-factor intercorrelated model fit the data very well. The four factors include (a) empathic feeling and expression, (b) empathic perspective taking, (c) empathic awareness, and (d) acceptance of cultural differences. The SEE can be an invaluable tool for rehabilitation counselor educators to evaluate their students’ level of multicultural rehabilitation counseling competency and as an outcome variable for multicultural rehabilitation counseling training.

Persons With Disabilities in Self-Employment Served by the Federal/State Vocational Rehabilitation System: Differences Between 2011–2013 and 2017–2019

Abstract: Persons with disabilities (PWDs) are disproportionately unemployed, underpaid, and underemployed despite their desire and capacity to work. The U.S. federal/state vocational rehabilitation (VR) program, under the supervision of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), is charged with providing services to assist eligible PWDs (VR consumers) in achieving employment. Despite research showing that VR consumers closed to self-employment (vs. non-self-employment closures) have better outcomes, self-employment is often considered as a last resort. Moreover, some evidence suggests self-employment (like non-self-employment) outcomes are associated with VR consumers’ gender and racial/ethnic identity. The objective of this study was to determine trends of case closures in self-employment among PWDs within the VR program from 2011–2013 to 2017–2019 and to examine the effects of gender and race/ethnicity on self-employment outcomes. Variables of interest were obtained from RSA’s Case Service Report (RSA-911) data set for 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Data were recoded and analyzed. The number of closures in self-employment declined significantly. Weekly earnings in self-employment increased. Time from application to closure in self-employment decreased. Differences in VR self-employment outcomes by race/ethnicity and gender were noted. Efforts should be made to increase competency in self-employment of VR counselors and promote self-employment within the VR program.

Employers’ Perceptions of Challenges and Strategies in Hiring, Retaining, and Promoting Employees With Physical Disabilities

Abstract: Disability is a common component of human diversity, yet people with disabilities (PWD) are underrepresented in the workplace despite known benefits to PWD and companies alike. There is an urgent need to promote inclusion of PWD in the workplace. The purpose of this study was to explore employer-perceived challenges and strategies for employing, retaining, and promoting people with physical disabilities (PWPD) and to describe the policies, supports, and job accommodations they provide to PWPD. We administered a cross-sectional, online survey to employers in the Midwestern United States ( n = 53). Employers had an average of 8.5 years of experience in their job roles and represented diverse industries and company sizes. Employers provide a range of job accommodations; however, many reported lacking comprehensive disability policies such as training managers on how to support PWPD, providing employee resource groups for PWPD, and having a specific job accommodation fund. Major challenges reported by employers were related to lacking competencies in supporting employees with physical disabilities. However, employers endorsed the utility of strategies to address these challenges, including providing education and training and increasing buy-in from leadership. Study findings inform employers on ways to best support PWPD and improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.

The Time Is Ripe for Entrepreneurship in Vocational Rehabilitation: A Four-Pronged Approach

Abstract: The field of rehabilitation has laid a great foundation for the monumental entrepreneurial changes that have occurred to the worldwide economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of self-employment as an outcome has fallen below 1% of Vocational Rehabilitation closures but can rise as the field takes a four-pronged approach to helping individuals become entrepreneurs. The idea of entrepreneurship fits rehabilitation philosophy, and through training, legislation, and new vision many persons with disabilities can find successful careers as entrepreneurs.