Vocational Issues Research Articles

A review of self modeling and related interventions

About 150 studies exist in print, examining the use of self modeling (mostly in the video medium) in a variety of training and therapeutic applications. Evidently, two lines of thoughts have driven the development of these applications: (a) an extension of peer modeling or (b) a description of personal success. Studies report self-modeling interventions for physical skills (rehabilitation, sports), academic and vocational issues, communication, and personal and social adjustment. A wide range of ages (toddler to grandparent) and diverse developmental conditions have been addressed. The most fruitful applications may be those that emphasize the image of future success—skills not previously attained and adaptive responses to a challenging context. Rather than examine efficacy related to target “problems,” this review identifies categories of application made possible by current knowledge and technology (e.g., use of hidden supports, selectively editing low-frequency behaviors). Seven such categories are identified and illustrated with descriptions of interventions. The evidence is used to argue for the recognition of learning from the observation of one's own successful or adaptive behavior (or images of it) as a mechanism in its own right.

Quality of life and social environment as reported by Chinese immigrants with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) has been associated with stressful events such as immigration. The purpose of this paper is to report a pilot study that tested translated and back-translated instruments to ascertain factors related to diabetes management in a group of Chinese immigrants with diabetes. The descriptive, cross-sectional design included a convenience sample of 30 Chinese immigrants who had been diagnosed with NIDDM for at least 1 year. Consenting participants completed paper- and-pencil questionnaires (Diabetes Family-Behavior Checklist II, Diabetes Quality of Life, and MDRTC Knowledge Test) that had been translated and back-translated into Chinese and returned them in stamped, self-addressed envelopes. Results indicated that most of the scale and subscale reliabilities were similar to those published previously. Study participants had received limited diabetes education, reported many problems managing diabetes, especially in terms of social and vocational issues, and reported dissatisfaction with their quality of life. Diabetes-related family supportive behaviors were rated positively indicating the importance of including family members in educational programs.

Transition of Care Provided for Adolescents With Special Health Care Needs

This policy statement describes how the pediatrician can work closely with patients with special health care needs and their families as an advocate and educator to help them adapt positively to an adult-focused system of health care. Issues in health care transitions including independence and dependence, education and vocational issues, insurance issues and limitations, Social Security, and hospitalization are outlined.

Beyond Pioneering: An Introduction to the Special Issue on the Vocational Issues of Lesbian Women and Gay Men

The existing career literature on the concerns of lesbian and gay people has served the crucial function of defining lesbian and gay people as a distinct nonethnic cultural group (Elliot, 1993) facing discrimination and having unique work-related concerns. Most existing literature has focused on providing suggestions for counselors in working with this population. Thus, this special issue makes a unique contribution by focusing on building theoretical or empirical understandings of the vocational psychology of lesbian women and gay men. We discuss the development and content of the special issue. Next, we reflect on the relative lack of diversity of peoples with a minority sexual orientation discussed in the issue. We conclude with a discussion on how this special issue can help move the vocational literature in this area “beyond pioneering” and toward the systematic building of theoretical and empirical knowledge.

Notes from the Margins: Integrating Lesbian Experience into the Vocational Psychology of Women

This article integrates literature regarding lesbians and work into a comprehensive framework originally developed to articulate the unique vocational issues of women (Betz & Fitzgerald, 1987), and thereby explores the applicability of this framework to lesbian experience. More specifically, the article explores internal and external barriers to women's career choice, implementation, and adjustment, with speculation about how such barriers function in the vocational experiences of lesbians. The article concludes with implications for theory and research.

Employment status, social support, and life satisfaction among the elderly.

Relations among employment status, social support, and life satisfaction were examined in a sample of 292 community-living elderly as part of a larger investigation of the role of stressful life experiences and social support in the health of the elderly. Results of a path analysis suggested that the number of hours worked at a paying job, lower levels of depression, and greater perceived social support were directly related to higher levels of life satisfaction. Furthermore, social support mediated the effects of volunteer positions on life satisfaction. These findings are discussed in relation to previous research on vocational issues among the elderly. Limitations of this study are mentioned, and suggestions for future research are offered.

From Invisibility to Integration: Lesbian Identity in the Workplace

This article represents a first step toward a vocational psychology of lesbians that incorporates scholarship in lesbian and women's identity development and that is considered within the larger framework of women's career development. First, literature in lesbian and women's identity development is reviewed, followed by a discussion of the vocational issues of lesbians as related both to identity development and to the literature in the vocational psychology of women. The article concludes with suggestions for research and practice.

Post Secondary School Educational and Vocational Issues Facing Families in Rural North Queensland

Vocational choice has been a critical issue for rural Queensland families for many years although it remains a little documented aspect of the lives of secondary school students and their parents who live in the outback. While rural education has received official recognition as an area of disadvantage in the Australian education system for almost two decades (Schools Commission, 1975; Commission of Inquiry into Poverty in Australia, 1976) vocational choice in outback schools, which is central to the relationships between both school and work and school and tertiary education, has not been prominent in the research literature in spite of several recent reports (Boomer, 1988; Australian Education Council Review Committee, 1991; National Board of Employment, Education and Training, 1991). This research project has been designed to investigate the processes of post secondary school education and vocational choices for families in a representative community and to consider the implications of this issue for schools and policy makers. The research project was initiated by Dr David McSwan of James Cook University's Rural Education Research and Development Centre and Dr Ken Stevens of the Faculty of Education at Victoria University in Wellington in New Zealand. Specifically, the research will investigate how families with year ten, eleven and twelve students in a selected North Queensland community make choices about post secondary school education and careers.

Long Term Unemployment and Rehabilitation Counselling: Problems Faced and Competencies Required

The impact of long-term unemployment is not confined to the vocational sphere but also includes a psychosocial component. Many who are out of work for long periods of time not only report deskilling but also lack of support, poor self esteem and low self confidence. This paper examines some of these issues by reference to both the Australian government's ‘Working Nation’ paper on unemployment and research carried out with 77 unemployed persons in Sydney, Australia. While it is not unusual for rehabilitation counsellors to receive referrals of people with disabilities who have been unemployed for considerable periods, contact with the general long-term unemployed population has been less common. The rehabilitation counselling profession is closely examined in terms of the degree to which its skill and knowledge base matches the needs profile of this general unemployed population. Rehabilitation counselling was found to be an appropriate profession to deal with the complex mix of vocational and psychosocial issues confronted by persons who have remained unemployed for long periods of time.

Functional improvement in severe head injury after readmission for rehabilitation.

Early rehabilitation has been shown to minimize complications and optimize functional outcomes in head-injured patients. Although cognitive, behavioural and vocational issues continue for years after injury, many investigations maintain that physical improvement is limited after 6 months. At 12 months after injury, expectations for physical improvement are generally limited. In addition, although repeated inpatient admissions for rehabilitation are common, gains in self-care and mobility skills during readmissions for rehabilitation have not been specifically investigated. In this retrospective study the records of 49 severely head-injured patients were evaluated. All were readmitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility more than 12 months after injury. Barthel Index scores were obtained to evaluate physical function. Although previous studies would predict few improvements, in this study 53% (26 patients) showed improvement, and the difference between readmission and discharge Barthel scores was statistically significant (p = 0.0001). Gains were highly correlated with length of readmission, but not with age of patient, age at time of injury, length of coma, time since injury, or duration of previous rehabilitation. Patients with mid-range admission Barthel scores (21-85) demonstrated the largest gains, with 79% showing improvement. Gains averaged 11.2 points on the Barthel Index. Severely head-injured patients may show clinically significant improvement in physical function well after current standards predict a plateau.

Project Taking Charge: An Evaluation of an Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program

The research reported in this article is an evaluation of an abstinence-based intervention program, Project Taking Charge, a combined sex and vocational education program for seventh grade students in high pregnancy-risk areas. A pretest/posttest control group research design was used. Predicted changes in adolescent self-esteem, educational aspirations, and sexual attitudes and behavioral intentions were not found. Neither were predicted changes found on several measures of parent-adolescent communication about sexual and vocational issues. However, both adolescents and parents realized significant knowledge gains in the areas of human sexuality, sexual development, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Rehabilitation of Patients with Spinal Cord Disease

Spinal cord injury and disease have multisystem consequences and many potential medical complications. This article addresses the various medical, psychosocial, and vocational issues associated with spinal cord injury and describes how the patient's lifestyle may be affected. The role of the physician and other rehabilitation professionals in the rehabilitation process is described. In addition, various medical concerns, complications, and available treatment modalities are discussed.

Aids

This chapter gives a concise overview of the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), with special emphasis on clinical aspects relevant to rehabilitation professionals. AIDS is a novel form of an acquired immune deficit now known to be caused by the recently recognized Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Symptoms result from the direct effects of the virus on the immune system and the nervous system, which appear to be the primary targets. Much of the morbidity and mortality, however, is caused by opportunistic infections which occur in patients unable to mobilize the appropriate immune defenses against them. Characteristic, but previously rare, neoplasms also occur due to a failure of immune regulation. Improved medical care, however, has changed AIDS from a rapidly fatal disease to one where survival may be prolonged. The rehabilitation setting, the physical disability caused by AIDS, along with the psychosocial and economic impact of the disease on the patient have become increasingly important. Fatigue, decreased endurance, weight loss, edema, blindness and swallowing difficulties may all contribute to functional impairment. Neurological involvement is frequent and may cause dementia, hemiplegia, spastic paraparesis, painful neuropathies and proximal or distal muscle weakness. The clinical features and functional impact of these symptoms on the patient with AIDS is discussed, and the appropriate rehabilitation interventions outlined. Psychosocial and vocational issues are addressed as they pertain to the different clinical presentations.

Parents, Careers and Culture: The View of Ethnic-Minority and Ethnic-Majority Girls

Abstract In a study concerned with factors affecting career aspirations, 45 Muslim and 71 non-Muslim secondary-schoolgirls completed scales requiring them to rate themselves on attributes chosen for their relevance to careers. Subjects also completed these scales as they believed their parents would rate them. Minimal differences were shown between the two groups and, contrary to stereotype, Muslim girls did not indicate that their fathers would rate them low on such attributes. Interviews conducted with 21 of the Muslim pupils indicated little conflict in their homes over vocational issues and revealed that both parents, but especially fathers, were supportive of higher education and careers for their daughters.

Behavior management for community reintegration

The article examines rehabilitation of the behavior disordered head injured with an emphasis on eventual community reintegration. Discussed are behavioral issues, cognitive issues, a program model of a rural behavioral unit, behavior management, the role of counseling, community reentry, cognitive management, vocational issues, and reentry transition. (DB) Language: en

A Projected Post Discharge Rehabilitation Program for Closed Head Injured Adults

The following paper briefly summarizes the barriers to social and vocational readjustment of persons with closed head injuries and outlines a proposed comprehensive program designed to eliminate those barriers. Each of nine projected program modules is outlined, focusing on a multidisciplinary, goal-oriented approach toward the unique and complex programs experienced by the target population. This applied approach to social and vocational issues is designed to provide continuity of service from hospital discharge to full employment.

A Behavioral Perspective

The behavioral approach to rehabilitation counseling represents one of the most unique and comprehensive set of strategies in the field. These procedures are applicable in all aspects of rehabilitation counseling, involving vocational issues, attainment of functional skills, and psychosocial adjustment issues. In this paper, the definitions of behavior therapy, applied behavior analysis, behaviorism, and behavior modification are presented and examined. A behavior analysis of the rehabilitation process is discussed and the similarities and differences between this approach and others are briefly reviewed. Examples of behavioral strategies in rehabilitation counseling are presented, and suggestions for future research are made. In summary, behavioral approaches to rehabilitation counseling involve assisting the disabled individual to acquire and maintain those functional behaviors that maximize his independence, and facilitates the individual's complete reintegration into his work, home, and social environment.

Jobs Obtained by Spinal Cord Injured Rehabilitants: Implications For Job Placement Practices

The purpose of this article is to analyze the jobs obtained by a large sample of spinal cord injured rehabilitants, relate thesefindings to earlier literature on vocational issues, and generate a list of useful suggestions for rehabilitation counselors involved with job placement for this special population.

Some vocational guidance issues in general education schools of the Soviet Social Republic of Lithuania

According to the experimental material collected during the survey of fourteen rural and urban schools, with participation of 467 students of 9th, 10th, and 11th grades by using a questionnaire, lesson monitoring, conversations with students and teachers, and other methods, an insufficient determination on the future profession choice becomes obvious among the students of senior grades.
 Most (68.52%) students point out that they scarcely know the chosen profession. Nevertheless, the majority of seniors (91.22%) intend to enter higher education and specialized secondary education institutions.
 The majority of just a small group of students who intend after graduation to go straight to work in production (8.78%), explain their choice anything but the significance of their chosen profession to the society. They seek not a deeper understanding of life, but to accumulate the experience required for entrance to a higher education institution. The motives of the majority willing to study further are of a public character.
 Experimental materials show that up till now this issue has not been solved in vocational classes either. Just a small part of students studying in these classes are planning to work according to the profession acquired at school or enter a relevant higher education school.
 Based on that, the article suggests the ways to improve vocational guidance which should both correspond to the needs of national economy and consider the individual inclinations of students and their other personal qualities.
 For systematic and scheduled vocational guidance, certain coordination should be performed by schools, soviet districts and party organizations. Management and directive centers are necessary to implement not only practical but research work as well.