Rehabilitation Counseling Practice Research Articles

Evaluation of a Multiple Mediator Model of the Relationship Between Core Self-Evaluations and Job Satisfaction in Employed Individuals With Disabilities

Purpose:To test a meditation model of the relationship between core self-evaluations (CSE) and job satisfaction in employed individuals with disabilities.Method:A quantitative descriptive design using Hayes’s (2012) PROCESS macro for SPSS and multiple regression analysis. Two-hundred fifty-nine employed persons with disabilities were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk to participate in the study.Results:Support from supervisors, work engagement, wage, and job stress were found to partially mediate the relationship between CSE and job satisfaction. The direct effect of CSE on job satisfaction was still significant after controlling for the effects of all mediators.Conclusions:CSE affected job satisfaction in persons with disabilities, both directly and through improved supervisory support, greater engagement in work, increased pay, and decreased job stress. Implications of the results on rehabilitation counseling practice to improve job satisfaction in clients with disabilities are discussed.

Recovery Capital and Quality of Life in Stable Recovery From Addiction

Quality of life is becoming an increasingly important outcome measure in both relapse prevention research and rehabilitation counseling research. Recovery capital is a collection of the people and resources believed to contribute to long-term recovery from addiction. Recovery capital indicators were assessed along with quality of life in a national sample of peer support participants in stable recovery ( n = 76) to determine which recovery capital indicators relate to quality of life at this stage. Results reveal that relapse history, refusal self-efficacy, and self-stigma significantly explained about 23% of quality of life in our sample. A discussion of recovery stages and recovery capital is included, as well as implications for rehabilitation counseling practice and research.

Rehabilitation Counseling Practice in State Vocational Rehabilitation and the Effect of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

Purpose: This article includes a study that sheds light on the implications of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA) mandated VR knowledge and skills requirements for VR counselors in the state VR program. It is also a commentary on current training, accreditation and intraprofessional challenges in the larger counseling field. Our study investigated VR directors’ perceptions of the importance and counselor preparedness in specific WIOA mandated knowledge areas. Findings revealed that VR directors consider WIOA mandated knowledge areas (e.g., employment-related and case management) to be very important, and they see room for improvement in the preparation of VR counselors to execute these functions. Our commentary provides readers with information related rehabilitation counseling history, intraprofessional practice, and guidelines for the future of rehabilitation counseling and the larger counseling profession.

Preliminary Validation of a Short-Form Version of the Attachment Style Questionnaire for Use in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Research and Practice

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a short-form version of the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ) in people with disabilities. The construction sample consisted of 108 participants recruited from spinal cord injury (SCI) advocacy organizations. The cross-validation sample comprised 140 individuals with traumatic injuries recruited from a rehabilitation hospital. Measures administered were the ASQ, Trait Hope Scale, Sense of Coherence Scale, and Satisfaction With Life Scale. Results showed that the three subscales of secure, anxious, and avoidant attachment from the short-form ASQ had high correlations with the three subscales from the long-form ASQ. The reliability of the subscales for the short-form ASQ was adequate and similar to the long-form ASQ. Both the short- and long-form ASQ subscales were found to correlate with hope, sense of coherence, and subjective well-being in the expected theoretical directions. Confirmatory factor analysis also supported the three-factor measurement structure of the short-form ASQ. This study provides evidence to support the psychometric properties of the abbreviated ASQ in people with disabilities. The short-form version of the ASQ is a brief, reliable, and psychometrically sound measure of attachment that can be used in clinical rehabilitation counseling research and practice.

Perceived Preparedness to Implement Evidence-Based Practice by Certified Rehabilitation Counselors: A Qualitative Content Analysis

The implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) in rehabilitation counseling has the potential to improve the effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation (VR) services and employment outcomes of people with disabilities. The purpose of this content analysis was to explore certified rehabilitation counselors’ (CRCs) perceptions of the effectiveness of EBP and their preparedness to implement EBP in a variety of rehabilitation counseling settings. Three hundred fourteen CRCs responded to two open-ended questions related to their perceived effectiveness and preparedness to use EBP in VR service delivery practices. Results of this content analysis indicate that CRCs generally recognize the value of EBP and support its use in rehabilitation counseling. However, they identified major individual-level and organizational-level barriers that could hinder the implementation of EBP in the professional practice of rehabilitation counseling. Strong administrative support, adequate funding, time, and continuous training to update skills will be needed to fully implement EBP in rehabilitation counseling.

Self-efficacy as a mediator for the relationship between secure attachment style and employment status in individuals with spinal cord injuries

PURPOSE: To evaluate the mediation effect of self-efficacy on the relationship between secure attachment and employment status of people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). DESIGN: Quantitative descriptive research design using logistic regression, multiple regression, and correlational techniques. METHODS: One hundred and ninety individuals with SCI were recruited from the Canadian Paraplegic Association. Only individuals ages between 25–54 years (prime working age) were selected for this study. RESULTS: Secure attachment and self-efficacy were significantly related to employment status. Self-efficacy was found to be a significant mediator of the relationship between secure attachment and employment status. CONCLUSION: Results provide support for the importance of building a strong working alliance and helping individuals with SCI in the professional practice of rehabilitation counseling.

Comparison of Ethical Dilemmas Across Public and Private Sectors in Rehabilitation Counseling Practice

Purpose:To examine the nature of ethical dilemmas most frequently reported by rehabilitation counselors in the private and public sectors and determine if significant differences exist in how practitioners experience ethical dilemmas in these two settings.Method:A mixed-methods internet-based survey design was utilized and included descriptive, qualitative, and quantitative approaches on a sample of rehabilitation counselors (N= 141) via an instrument created by the researchers.Results:The results indicate that there are clear differences between both the nature and frequency of ethical dilemmas encountered by practitioners in the private and public sectors of rehabilitation counseling. Findings indicate that there are significant differences not only in the frequency and importance each group attributes to ethical dilemmas but also in the types of ethical dilemmas experienced.Conclusion:Rehabilitation counselors in the private and public sectors practice in different environments (with varied laws, rehabilitation goals, duration of services), and minimal consideration has been given to the diversity of ethical dilemmas that these practitioners encounter in their professional roles. The inclusion of Section F in the 2010 CRCC Code of Ethics was the rehabilitation counseling field’s first attempt to address the differing nature of ethical dilemmas faced by private rehabilitation counselors in their practice. Further study is warranted to examine the dynamics that underlie the ethical decision-making process as well exploring the differences between these two settings.

Doctoral Dissertation Research in Rehabilitation Counseling

This article begins a series of planned annual reviews of rehabilitation doctoral dissertation research. Twenty doctoral dissertations completed in 2011 from recognized doctoral programs in rehabilitation were identified and analyzed. Dissertations were indexed according to their research topic, methodology employed, model, and statistical analysis, and an annotated bibliography was developed. Institutional productivity and employment trends of doctoral graduates were added as baseline data points for future analysis. Results of the current analysis reflect that a majority of the studies consisted of quantitative descriptive research designs. Unlike prior analyses, advanced and basic statistics were utilized equitably. Dissertations focusing on attitudes toward persons with a disability were higher than any of the prior reporting periods. Predictive outcome studies and clinical population research also remain prevalent. Implications for the practice of rehabilitation counseling, education, and future research are discussed.

Employment Outcomes in Persons With Diabetes

Low health literacy is common among adults and is related to adverse health outcomes. It also impacts health management and one’s ability to control his or her chronic illness. The current study examined the association of health literacy and diabetes management self-efficacy with employment among 126 individuals with diabetes. No relationship was found between health literacy and employment. Diabetes-management self-efficacy was not directly related to employment but it was indirectly linked to it through physical health and lack of interference of diabetes with activities of daily living. This research suggests that strategies to improve self-efficacy may contribute to improved health and employment outcomes. Implications for rehabilitation counseling practice and research are discussed.

Determinants of Health Care Access After Spinal Cord Injury

This paper presents a review of the literature examining determinants of access to health care among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). The literature shows that health insurance, race-ethnicity, income, age, gender, and residential location (rural/urban) are common themes discussed in the literature as factors that influence access to health care of persons with SCI. This review ends with discussion of implications for rehabilitation counseling research and practice.

Functional limitations in TBI and their relationship to job maintenance following work re-entry

Using data from the Job Accommodation Network Information System (JANIS), the utility of self-reported functional limitations was examined in relationship to job maintenance for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who had returned to work. It was found that memory loss and attention/concentration concerns were the most common functional limitations reported. To further establish which limitations were associated with job maintenance, a binary logistic regression was applied. Results suggested that the presence of medical symptoms and emotional dysregulation were reliably and inversely associated with job maintenance. Implications are provided for further research as well as the practice of rehabilitation counseling.

The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale as a Positive Psychology Measure for People With Spinal Cord Injuries

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the measurement structure of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) as a positive psychology measure for people with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) using confirmatory factor analysis. The participants consisted of 274 Canadians with SCI living in the community. The result indicated that the 5-factor intercorrelated model fits the data reasonably well (χ2 = 635.20; p value < .001; χ2/df = 2.40; CFI = .90; RMSEA = 0.07). These 5 factors (personal competence, high standards, and tenacity; trust in one’s instincts, tolerance of negative affect, and strengthening effects of stress; positive acceptance of change and secure relationships; control; and spiritual influence) correlated positively with disability acceptance and happiness, and inversely related to depression. The reliability of the 5 subscales was good ranging from .65 to .92. In conclusion, the results of this study confirmed that the 5-factor structure of the CD-RISC observed in the general population can be replicated in a sample of Canadians with SCI. This resilience scale can be used as a positive psychology measure in rehabilitation counseling research and practice.

Introduction to Positive Psychology in Rehabilitation

Positive psychology has received increasing attention in rehabilitation counseling research and practice. The rehabilitation counseling philosophy shares a similar emphasis of personal assets and strengths, which provides a solid foundation for the integration of positive psychology into the professional practice of rehabilitation counseling. In this article, the guest editors present their rationale for developing this special issue on positive psychology and rehabilitation research. They highlight some of the exciting findings reported in the articles included in this special issue on positive psychology and rehabilitation research. The goal of this special issue is to stimulate thinking and discussion about applying positive psychology theory, research, assessment, and interventions in rehabilitation counseling for promoting overall well-being, quality of life, and happiness for people with chronic illness and disabilities.

Empirically Derived Test Specifications for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Examination

This study examined the major job functions and knowledge domains required for effective rehabilitation counseling practice in today’s rapidly changing practice environment to revise and update the test specifications for the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification examination. This report describes the methodology used in this nationwide study, the primary research questions addressed, the study’s principal findings and recommendations, including the new set of test specifications that will guide future versions of the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Examination. The results of this study provide empirical support for the description of the knowledge base underlying the practice of rehabilitation counseling and contributes further empirical evidence in relation to the content and construct validity of the knowledge domains identified in this replication and extension of the most recent study completed in 2006.

A Pedagogical Strategy to Facilitate Interdisciplinary Reflective Thinking and Practice in Rehabilitation Counseling Students

Simultaneous calls have been issued for reflective thinking and interdisciplinary collaboration in the teaching and the practice of rehabilitation counseling. This article introduces a learning tool, Fanciful Reflections, which can serve as a stimulus in such endeavors. Classroom and in-the-field applications of “fanciful reflecting” are provided to enhance the exploration of new paradigms and the further development of interdisciplinary theories, tools, and practices.

Social Justice, Disability, and Rehabilitation Education

The academic field and the professional practice of rehabilitation counseling focuses on one aspect of social justice, assisting individuals with disabilities to attain full community inclusion. Nonetheless, social justice focuses on many marginalized groups and in the related fields of counseling and psychology, those with disabilities are rarely considered to be a group experiencing social injustice. Therefore, rehabilitation counseling focuses on a single marginalized status, disability, while counseling and psychology tend to ignore disability. The goal of this article is to argue for more comprehensive training in graduate rehabilitation counseling training programs. To this end, four topics are presented: (1) a review of the social justice literature; (2) possible explanations for the findings of this review; (3) obstacles to the inclusion of social justice in the rehabilitation curriculum; and (4) recommendations for incorporating social justice into the graduate rehabilitation curriculum.

Doctoral Dissertation Research in Rehabilitation Counseling

This article continues the tradition of reviews documenting doctoral rehabilitation research. Doctoral dissertations completed during calendar years 2008–2010 from recognized doctoral rehabilitation programs were identified and reviewed using the same approach used by Tansey, Zanskas, and Phillips. Analysis of 88 dissertations resulted in a topical index of research topic, methodology, model, and type of statistical analysis that were considered independently and in relation to previous reviews. Among findings, the increase in predictive outcome studies observed in Tansey et al. was also observed in this review. An increase in research on specific clinical populations was also observed. Implications for the practice of rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation education, and future research are discussed.

Doctoral Dissertation Research in Rehabilitation Counseling

Graduates of doctoral level programs are the stewards of their profession. Historically, doctoral dissertation research has been summarized as a service to improve research accessibility, analyze research trends, and suggest potential areas for future inquiry. The current review analyzes 99 doctoral dissertations from recognized rehabilitation counseling programs for the years 2005 through 2007. Departing from previous inquiries, the present study analyzed the methodology employed, the research model, and the type of statistical analyses implemented to answer the research questions posed by the dissertator. These additional points were included to reflect the growing emphasis in the field of rehabilitation counseling on evidence-based practice. A description of the methodology utilized to develop the reference citations, content summaries, observations, trends, and the annotated bibliography is provided. Potential implications for the practice of rehabilitation counseling, teaching, and future research are discussed.

Rosa's Law and the Language of Disability: Implications for Rehabilitation Counseling

National campaigns promoting the use of the term intellectual disability (ID) have culminated in the recent U.S. congressional passing of Rosa's Law. Rosa's Law changes how ID is referred to in federal disability programs by removing all references to the term, “mental retardation” (U.S Government Printing Office, October, 2010). Little is known about how the change in language will affect rehabilitation counseling practice and education. Accordingly, this article addresses the following: (a) history of the descriptors of ID, (b) the stigmatizing effects of terminology, (c) eliminating the use of the r-word through Rosa's Law, and (d) implications for the rehabilitation counseling profession.

Internet Practices of Certified Rehabilitation Counselors and Analysis of Guidelines for Ethical Internet Practices

The Internet has become an integral part of the practice of rehabilitation counseling. To identify potential ethical issues regarding the use of the Internet by counselors, two studies were conducted. In Study 1, we surveyed a national sample of rehabilitation counselors regarding their use of technology in their work and home settings. Results suggested that all counselors use email and find information on the Internet, and some also use the Internet to socialize. Some online activities in which counselors engage raise ethical concerns. Study 2 was a content analysis of ethical codes of three national counseling associations and three states that license rehabilitation counselors for the amount of guidance these codes provide regarding Internet activities. Results indicated that although the ethical use of technology has been identified in the codes, there are still areas in which the guidance is only indirect at best.