An Evaluation of Risk Factors Related to Employment Outcomes for Youth With Disabilities

OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine the independent and interactive effects of common mental health disorders and chronic pain conditions on employment and work outcomes among individuals younger than 65 years of age. METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional data from the second wave of Healthcare for Communities (HCC2), a household telephone survey of U.S. civilian adults conducted in 2000 to 2001 (N=5328). Common mental disorders were assessed using the short-form versions of the World Health Organization’s Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI-SF). Chronic pain conditions and labor market outcomes were identified by self report. Logistic and linear regression analysis was used to provide estimates for work impairment based on the presence of a mental health disorder and/or a chronic pain condition. RESULTS: The interaction between presence of a mental health disorder and presence of a chronic pain condition was significantly associated with no work for pay in the past 12 months (OR 2.3 [1.2–4.2]) and number of days of work missed in the past month due to health (regression coefficient 1.5 [0.6]). In stratified analyses, this effect persisted in women but not men. The presence of a mental health disorder or chronic pain condition were each independently associated with limitations in work and any work missed in the past 30 days due to health, although the interaction was not significant. CONCLUSION: Mental health disorders and chronic pain are each associated with work disability. Mental health disorders are more highly associated with some work disability outcomes when accompanied by chronic pain, especially in women.

Forty-five patients (50 hands) who had undergone secondary carpal tunnel surgery participated in a telephone questionnaire survey. The mean follow-up time from the second carpal tunnel surgery was 31 months (range, 9-92 mo). Only 24 patients (53%) reported significant improvement in their symptoms. Thirty-nine patients were unemployed workers who had experienced an average time off work of 28.7 months (+/- 4) before their secondary carpal tunnel surgery. Eleven of the 39 previously unemployed workers (28%) returned to work after the secondary carpal tunnel surgery. Factors associated with poor subjective and employment outcome included worker's compensation case involvement (p < 0.003). Occupations associated with repetitive hand movements or vibrating tools were associated with poor employment outcomes (p < 0.006). Although secondary surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome can be effective in relieving symptoms, patients and surgeons must have realistic expectations of the procedure, especially with respect to long-term employment goals.

BACKGROUND: With evidence pointing to particularly poor employment outcomes for young adults with ASD, it is important to understand their employment experiences in order to develop effective interventions that address their needs. OBJECTIVE: We compared the job search experience, job duration, and job loss of young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their peers with four other types of disabilities. METHODS: The study analyzed wave 5 data collected in 2009 from youth or their parents who were included in the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2), a nationally representative sample of youth who received special education services in high school. RESULTS: Among 21 to 25 year olds with ASD, fewer than 30% were looking for a paid job at the time of the interview and approximately 22% found a job on their own, the lowest rates among the five disability groups included in the analyses. It took them an average of 14 months to find a job, longer than the other disability groups. Young adults with ASD held a job for an average of 24 months, longer than youth in two of the other disability categories. The main reason young adults with ASD became unemployed is because their temporary job ended. Those who were older, were from higher-income households, had better conversational or functional skills, or attended postsecondary schools had more positive employment experiences. CONCLUSIONS: Young adults with ASD experienced considerable difficulty obtaining long-term employment, and more research is needed to determine strategies for improving their employment outcomes.

Interest in the pathways young people take from high school to early adulthood indicates that participation in early employment and postsecondary education facilitates long-term independence, agency, and career stability (Eliason et al., 2015; Shanahan et al., 2002). Although many adolescents with disabilities do not participate in these early adult experiences at rates commensurate with their normative peers, the overall structure, timing, and persistence of these patterns is not well understood. The current study analyzes data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2 (NLTS2) to explore patterns of emerging adult engagement in employment and/or postsecondary school among young adults with high-incidence disabilities across three early adult time points (20 to 25 years old) as well as adolescent precursors to these patterns. The sample was comprised exclusively of youth with disabilities (i.e., learning disabilities, emotional disturbance, and intellectual disability), 32% of participants were students of color, and 23% were from families living below the federal poverty line. Results suggested 3 patterns of adult engagement: dynamically engaged (15%), primarily employed (51%), and primarily unengaged (34%). Student race and disability type were associated with these patterns as were individual skills (e.g., reading, mathematics & social skills), family characteristics (i.e., parent expectations), and school experiences (i.e., peer relationships, extracurricular activities) gathered during high school. These findings shed new light on the patterns of early employment and postsecondary participation among emerging adults with disabilities as well as adolescent predictors of these patterns. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

The cohort consists of all psychiatric patients (n = 53) admitted for the first time in 1972 from a well-defined catchment area with a population of 582,000 inhabitants aged 15 years and over. Furthermore, they were all registered with the diagnosis schizophrenia in the nation-wide psychiatric register at least once during an observation period from the day of the first admission in 1972 until August 31, 1983. The entire cohort was followed up on average 13 years after their first admission. Poor employment outcome (79%), poor social contact outcome (55%), and poor overall social outcome (76%) characterized the living conditions of the 42 patients alive at follow-up. Good employment outcome was predicted by "born in rural area." Good social contact outcome was predicted by full remission at first discharge and poor outcome by male sex. Good overall social outcome was predicted by "born in rural area" and of marginal significance by high social status at first admission. A comparison of parents' highest social group and patients' social group at follow-up supports previous findings on social drift.

BackgroundEducation is recognised as a strong determinant of health. Yet there is increasing concern that health in adolescence may also influence educational attainments and future life chances. We examined associations...

<h3>Background</h3> Education is recognised as a strong determinant of health. Yet there is increasing concern that health in adolescence may also influence educational attainments and future life chances. We examined...

This study examines employment and educational outcomes for justice-involved adolescents with and without mental health disorders in the Pathways to Desistance study. We examine the patterns of education and employment and the effects of several factors, including the presence of a mental health disorder, on these positive outcomes. Three findings emerge: (a) youth with mental health problems have a relatively high number of other criminogenic risk factors, (b) education and employment patterns do not differ by disorder status, and (c) the presence of a mental health disorder is not independently linked to poorer employment outcomes, but educational achievement is. These analyses provide information needed to target services for these adolescents in the juvenile justice system, who are at high risk for poor educational and employment outcomes. Results indicate a need for increased emphasis on higher levels of academic attainment as a way to promote positive employment outcomes in these youth.

Introduction Youths with visual impairments attend post-secondary school at high rates, yet these individuals have low rates of employment. In this study, factors associated with post-school employment were investigated in a nationally representative sample of youths with visual impairments. Methods In a secondary analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study–2, multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate employment outcomes for youths with visual impairments based on orientation and mobility skills and outcome expectations. Results Youths with high community travel scores were significantly more likely to be employed in Wave 4 (up to six years post–high school; B = .25, p = .003) and those with high outcome expectations were significantly more likely to be employed in Wave 5 (up to eight years post–high school; B = .33, p = .04). Discussion Results suggest that independently traveling to places outside the home, using public transportation, and arranging airplane or train trips predict post-school employment for youths with visual impairments. Positive self-beliefs about work for pay, financial self-support, and independent living were also associated with employment. Implications for practitioners Professionals can support students in gaining these vital skills by providing community experiences, positive role models, and verbal encouragement. Research-based predictors of employment should be considered when planning transition services for adolescents with visual impairments.

Young women with disabilities often achieve poor post-school employment outcomes and experience limited career opportunities. Case study methods were utilized to examine the major barriers and facilitators to career choice for young women with learning disabilities who graduated from high school and entered the workforce. Key variables that influenced career choice included (a) gender roles, (b) disability, (c) family and childhood experiences, (d) early work experiences, and (e) career exploration and counseling. Participants who had a solid foundation of employment experiences coupled with opportunities to explore and refine career goals were more likely to enter post-school employment related to their interests and goals.

Little is known about psychopharmacological treatment among adolescents with educational disabilities. This study (a) describes pharmacotherapy among adolescents who received special education, and (b) examines the relations to adolescents' disability type and sociodemographic characteristics. The sample was 9,230 adolescents who participated in the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2, a nationally representative study of students with disabilities. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to estimate prevalence and predictors of pharmacotherapy. During the study period, 18.14% of adolescents received pharmacotherapy with 11.75% receiving monopharmacy, 6.39% receiving polypharmacy, and 5.86% simultaneously receiving multiple classes of medications. Stimulants and antidepressants were the most commonly used classes of psychotropic medication. After adjusting for sociodemographics, pharmacotherapy was highest among adolescents with other health impairments, emotional disturbance, and autism. Disability type, race/ethnicity, marital status, head of household education, urbanicity, and private insurance type were significant predictors of polypharmacy. Overall, these results indicated rates of psychopharmacological treatment exceeded those in the general population and disparities across sociodemographic groups existed. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the most commonly diagnosed neurological disorder in children. Adults with ASD have some of the poorest employment outcomes in comparison to others with disabilities. While data in Canada is limited, roughly 25 per cent of Americans living with ASD are employed and no more than six per cent are competitively employed. Most earn less than the national minimum hourly wage, endure extended periods of joblessness and frequently shuffle between positions, further diminishing their prospects. Poor employment outcomes result in lower quality of life and often lead to steep economic costs. Governments are wise to pay attention to the poor employment outcomes as the high numbers of children now diagnosed with ASD will become adults in the future in need of employment opportunities. Improving employment outcomes for those living with ASD is an important policy objective. Work opportunities improve quality of life, economic independence, social integration, and ultimately benefit all. Adults with ASD can succeed with the right supports. Fortunately, there are many emerging policy and program options that demonstrate success. This paper conducts a review of studies and provides policy recommendations based on the literature, to help governments identify appropriate policy options. Some key factors are both those that are unique to the individual and the external supports available; namely school, work, and family. For example, factors that contribute to successful employment for people living with ASD may include IQ, social skills and self-determination, but for all, even for the less advantaged, external assistance from schools, employers and family can help. Inclusive special education programs in high school that offer work experiences are critical as are knowledgeable employers who can provide the right types of accommodation and leadership. In the work environment the use of vocational and rehabilitative supports, from job coaching to technology-mediated training are a few of the work related factors that enhance success. Information in this paper provides policy makers with a way to move forward and enhance the current employment situation for those living with ASD ultimately improving quality of life and economic independence.

Background Recent concerns about population growth and its consequences in Sydney and Melbourne have added momentum to the debate on ways to achieve a more even geographic distribution of population. However, there is little contemporary evidence about the impact of regionally-focused immigration policies in delivering positive migrant outcomes and easing pressures in major cities.Aims The aim of this paper is to compare migration, employment and settlement outcomes between permanent and temporary skilled migrants to South Australia (SA) as well as the factors influencing migrants’ decisions to move into and out of the State. Data and methods Data in this paper draws on the South Australian General Skilled Migrant survey of State-sponsored skilled migrants conducted by The University of Adelaide in 2015. Results Lifestyle and employment factors were important in decisions to come to, stay or leave SA. Permanent migrants were more likely to choose SA as a destination because it was perceived as a good place to raise a family, while temporary migrants were more likely to cite employment. Temporary visa holders had relatively poor employment outcomes. Conclusions Temporary and permanent visa holders experienced different settlement and employment outcomes, demonstrating that a more detailed understanding of migrant characteristics and outcomes may be useful in designing and evaluating regionally-focused migration initiatives.

Introduction: This study aims to identify and synthesise the study of employment outcomes in the transition to adulthood for young people with visual impairment. Methods: The PRISMA Statement Protocol is used as a guide in conducting a systematic review of the literature, including the criteria for choosing a study, a search strategy, and a synthesis of findings. Results: Seven studies of factors influencing post-high school employment outcomes among adolescent transition-age with visual impairment were identified. Six studies used data from National Longitudinal Transition Study 2 (NLTS2), and one study using RSA Case Service Report (RSA-911). Of the seven studies with quantitative design, only one study is a correlational study. All studies reported a significant relationship and influence between work-related factors and post-secondary education employment outcomes. 13 factors affect positively and only 1 factor that has a negative influence. Discussion: Among the 13 factors, eight factors confirm the results of previous studies. While the other five factors still need to be investigated further, although in this study the five factors have a great potential as a predictor of successful work of youth with visual impairment. Limitations of data sources need to be a concern in conducting future studies. Implications for practitioners: The high unemployment rate in this population indicates a lack of evidence-based research in this area. Educational practitioners encouraged to evaluate intervention programs to improve the success of the transition-age youths with vision impairment and publish the findings for later can be use as a basis for developing appropriate livelihood policies and education programs.

Impact of adolescent peer aggression on later educational and employment outcomes in an Australian cohort