Preparing for adulthood: Transitioning from education to the labor market for youth with visual impairments

Abstract

In this discussion, transition refers to the process of moving from education to the labor market. For young visually impaired individuals, this transition can be particularly challenging and often requires additional support in areas such as developing personal resources. One key trait that can facilitate entry and retention in the labor market is self-esteem. Certain attitudes towards work may also influence the transition. A hedonic-autotelic attitude can motivate a person to look for jobs that offer opportunities for advancement and increase their motivation to pursue such positions even in unfavorable external circumstances. A normative attitude is more likely to drive a person to search for any job, even if it is incompatible with their aptitude, qualifications, or does not provide personal satisfaction. The study aimed to assess the level of self-esteem and attitudes towards work among young visually impaired individuals who are approaching the transition from education to the labor market.The tools used in the study were Morris Rosenberg’s SES Self-Esteem Scale (adapted to Polish by Mariola Łaguna, Kinga Lachowicz-Tabaczek and Irena Dzwonkowska), as well as Agnieszka Czerw’s ‘Attitude Towards Work’ Questionnaire. Regarding the level of self-esteem, it was surprising that none of the respondents obtained a score indicating a high level of self-esteem. A predominance of low self-esteem over average self-esteem could be observed. As for the two types of attitude towards work, the results showed a clear predominance of the normative attitude over the hedonic-autotelic attitude. A very weak negative correlation was found between self-esteem and the normative attitude, while a moderate positive correlation was observed between self-esteem and the hedonic-autotelic attitude. Conclusions: The conducted study was a pilot one, so it would be advisable to carry out wider-scale research on a larger population sample, to compare the results of individuals in relation to the chosen educational pathway, and to repeat measurement when they have already entered the labor market after completing their education.