Vocational Status Research Articles

A Greek Validation Study of the Multiple Sclerosis Work Difficulties Questionnaire-23.

The Multiple Sclerosis Work Difficulties Questionnaire-23 (MSWDQ-23) is a self-report instrument developed to assess barriers faced by People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) in the workplace. The aim of this study was to explore the psychometric properties of the Greek version of the MSWDQ-23. The study sample consisted of 196 PwMS, all currently working in part- or full-time jobs. Participants underwent clinical examination and cognitive screening with the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) and completed self-report measures of fatigue, psychological functioning, and quality of life, along with the MSWDQ-23 questionnaire. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed, and goodness-of-fit measures were used to evaluate construct validity. Convergent validity was checked by correlating MSWDQ-23 scores with study measures. Cronbach’s alpha value was produced to assess internal consistency. CFA yielded a model with a fair fit confirming the three-factor structure of the instrument. Higher work difficulties were associated with higher Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores, poorer cognitive function, more fatigue, stress, anxiety, and depression, and poorer health status, supporting the convergent validity of MSWDQ-23. Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.94) and test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.996, 95%, CI = 0.990–0.998) were excellent. The Greek MSWDQ-23 can be considered a valid patient-reported outcome measure and can be used in interventions aiming to improve the vocational status of PwMS.

Identifying Early Neuropsychological Indicators of Cognitive Involvement in Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease of the central nervous system that is most commonly seen in early to middle adulthood, although it can be diagnosed during childhood or later in life. While cognitive impairment can become more prevalent and severe as the disease progresses, signs of cognitive involvement can be apparent in the early stages of the disease. In this review, we discuss the prevalence and types of cognitive impairment seen in early MS, including the specific measures used to identify them, as well as the challenges in characterizing their frequency and progression. In addition to examining the progression of early cognitive involvement over time, we explore the clinical factors associated with early cognitive involvement, including demographics, level of physical disability, disease modifying therapy use, vocational status, and psychological and physical symptoms. Given the prevalence and functional impact these impairments can have for persons with MS, considerations for clinicians are provided, such as the role of early cognitive screenings and the importance of comprehensive neuropsychological assessments.

Self-stigma in psychotic disorders: Clinical, cognitive, and functional correlates in a diverse sample

Self-stigma in mental illness is linked to negative clinical and functional outcomes, but little is known about its correlates specifically in psychotic disorders. Here we investigated the role of clinical symptoms, cognition, and vocational status as correlates of self-stigma in 98 individuals with psychotic disorders (36 Black American, 32 White Hispanic, 11 White Non-Hispanic, 11 Asian American). A principal component analysis of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale yielded three components: Experiential Stigma, Stereotype Endorsement, and Stigma Resistance. Higher Experiential Stigma was associated with greater severity of affective symptoms and lower vocational status. Higher Stigma Resistance was associated with higher social and non-social cognition, and higher vocational status. Stereotype Endorsement did not significantly correlate with any predictor variable. Linear regression models showed that 13% of the variance in Experiential Stigma was explained by affective symptoms and vocational status, and 20% of the variance in Stigma Resistance was explained by non-social cognition and vocational status. These findings provide new information about the correlates of self-stigma in an ethnically and racially diverse psychotic disorder sample. Such information may lead to a better understanding of self-stigma mechanisms in this population.

The Association between Future Anxiety, Health Literacy and the Perception of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Increased anxiety related to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in society and specific professional groups has been reported by many authors. Most have applied tools enabling assessing the general traits of anxiety. Tools specifically designed for an assessment of anxiety or fear related to COVID-19 have also been developed. However, no study has assessed the future anxiety in relation to the pandemic. This concept was defined by Zaleski in the end of the 20th century as the state of apprehension, fear, worry, and concern regarding unfavourable changes in the more remote personal future. The aim of this study was an analysis to establish the level and the determinants of future anxiety in Polish society related to the COVID-19 pandemic three months after the introduction of the state of epidemic. The analysis reported in the paper is based on the data obtained through a web-based survey carried out on a representative sample of 1002 Polish adults aged 18–74 years. The hierarchical linear regression model was developed for the analysis of the determinants of future anxiety from the responses to a questionnaire consisting of five items. The independent variables selected for inclusion in the model, apart from sociodemographic characteristics, encompassed health literacy (HL) and ehealth literacy (eHL), perceived health threat related to COVID-19 (PHTC19), and a COVID-19-related conspiracy belief score (CCBS) derived from three items asking about the most popular conspiracy theories. The regression model developed in the final step showed that the future anxiety scale score (FASS) was significantly associated with gender, vocational status, HL, PHTC19, and CCBS. The FASS was lower among men than women (regression coefficient (B) (standard error, SE) = −1.28 (0.39), p = 0.001), among entrepreneurs or farmers rather than among employees of the public or private sector (B(SE) = −1.55, p = 0.010), in persons with a higher HL (B(SE) = −0.43 (0.06), p < 0.001). A higher FASS was observed in respondents with higher rather than lower PHTC19 (B(SE) = 1.49 (0.17), p < 0.001) and in those with a higher CCBS (B(SE) = 0.33 (0.07), p < 0.001). The model accounted for 15.2% of the variance of the FASS. In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic is not only a cause of increased mental symptoms, but also of increased future anxiety. Health-related measures are significantly associated with the FASS.

Capturing the collectivist cultural dynamics of vocational identity formation in Macao: expanding the three-dimensional status model

This research expanded the three-dimensional vocational identity status model proposed by Crocetti et al. (J Adolesc 31(2):207–222, 2008b, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2007.09.002 ) to develop the Macao Vocational Identity Status Assessment (MVISA). The MVISA was then validated on two samples of 274 and 245 college students in Macao, China. The original in-depth exploration dimension was differentiated into inter- and intra-exploration, and the original reconsideration of commitment dimension was extended into self-doubt and flexibility. The MVISA exhibited solid psychometric characteristics and was able to identify the theoretical vocational identity statuses proposed by Marcia (J Pers Soc Psychol 3(5):551–558, 1966, https://doi.org/10.1037/h0023281 ), with the culturally meaningful variations being assessed using cluster analyses with differentiated constructs.

Factor Structure of the Vocational Identity Status Assessment (VISA) in University, Liberal Arts, and Community College Students

The Vocational Identity Status Assessment (VISA) measures vocational identity development in adolescents and emerging adults. Although the initial six-factor structure has been confirmed, there have not yet been studies assessing other plausible factor structures. Additionally, the VISA has not previously been examined in some major types of institutions of higher education in the United States. The current study assessed five potential factor structures for the VISA in three college student samples: 857 from a large public university, 196 from a small, private, minority-majority liberal arts college, and 320 from a community college. The six-factor structure was the best-fitting model of the ones examined and showed evidence of multigroup invariance up to the strict level. There were notable latent mean differences across samples, as well as frequency differences for vocational identity statuses. These findings have implications for the appropriate modeling of the VISA and its use within diverse college student samples.

The Difference in Career Development Competency according to the Vocational Identity Status of Middle School Students: Using the Latent Class Analysis

The Difference in Career Development Competency according to the Vocational Identity Status of Middle School Students: Using the Latent Class Analysis

The Determinants of Conspiracy Beliefs Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Nationally Representative Sample of Internet Users.

An overwhelming flood of misinformation is accompanying the pandemic of COVID-19. Fake news and conspiracy theories are so prevalent that the World Health Organization started as early as February 2020 to use the term “infodemic”. This paper is focused on the assessment of the prevalence of beliefs in conspiracy theories related to COVID-19 in Polish society. The association of support for conspiracy theories with sociodemographic variables, health literacy (HL) and eHealth literacy (eHL) was studied. The analysis reported here was based on the data from an online survey of a representative sample (n = 1002) of the adult population of Polish Internet users. The multivariate linear regression for the COVID-19-related conspiracy belief score (CCBS) and logistic regression models for the support of individual conspiracy theories was developed. The percentage of supporters of particular conspiracy theories in the study sample ranged from 43% to 56%. The CCBS was significantly associated with age, education level, vocational status and both HL and eHL. However, it was lower for persons with higher HL (regression coefficient (B) = −0.04, p < 0.001) but higher for those with higher eHL (B = 0.04, p = 0.038). The most influential predictors of CCBS were age (standardised regression coefficient (β) = −0.21) and education level (β from 0.08 to 0.16 for respondents with lower education levels and those with master’s degrees). In conclusion, younger persons rather than older, those with a lower rather than with a higher level of education, employees rather than students and persons with lower rather than higher HL were more likely to believe the conspiracy theories. Surprisingly, contrary to expectations, higher eHL was significantly associated with greater belief in such theories.

진로정체감 검사와 진로정체감 지위검사에 따른 진로정체감 특성의 차이

본 연구는 진로정체감을 측정하는 두 주요 검사인 Holland 등(1980a)이 개발한 진로정체감 검사(VI)와 Porfeli 등(2011)이 개발한 진로정체감 지위검사(VISA)에 따라 대학생의 진로정체감 발달과 관련된 특성을 살펴보고자 하였다. 두 검사에 따라 각각 구분된 집단 간의 차이를 비교하고, 두 검사에 따라 대학생의 자기결정성과 부모진로지지의 차이를 비교하였다. 두 검사의 특성을 고려하여 상관분석을 실시하고, VISA의 6개 하위 요인과 VI에서의 점수를 서로 교차하여 분석하였다. 구체적으로 VI 점수 높은 집단과 낮은 집단이 VISA 여섯 하위 영역에서의 차이, VISA에 따른 여섯 군집 간 VI 점수의 차이를 비교하였다. VI 점수 높은 집단과 낮은 집단은 VISA의 전반적 탐색을 제외한 심층적 탐색, 진로몰입확신, 진로일체감, 진로자기의심, 진로유연성에서 유의한 차이를 나타냈다. VISA를 통해 도출한 여섯 진로정체감 상태(군집)가 VI 점수에서의 차이를 비교한 결과, 성취와 유실집단, 탐색유예와 미분화집단, 유예와 혼미집단 각각 VI에서 동질 집단으로 확인되었다. 추가로 집단 간에 자기결정성과 부모진로 지지에서의 차이를 확인한 결과 성취집단과 유실집단은 자기결정성에서 차이가 있었고 부모진로지지에서는 차이가 없었다. 탐색유예집단은 미분화집단과 부분적으로 차이가 있었고, 유예집단과 혼미집단은 차이가 없었다. 이러한 결과를 종합하여 연구의 시사점과 한계에 대해 논의하였다.

Work rehabilitation questionnaire (WORQ). Development of the russian version

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Work Rehabilitation Questionnaire (WORQ) was performed. WORQ is a generic instrument for assessment of social and vocational status and can be applied in different populations. This paper includes Russian version of the Questionnaire and guidelines for filling in the questionnaire.

Longitudinal Associations Between Vocational Identity Process and Career Goals

Vocational identity develops through the interplay between process and content dimensions. A three-wave longitudinal study investigated how identity process dimensions (in-breadth exploration, in-depth exploration, commitment making, identification with commitment, self-doubt, flexibility) and content dimensions represented by career goals (intrinsic goals, extrinsic goals) are interconnected across time. Participants were 327 full-time college students in South Korea at Time 1, 253 at Time 2, and 227 at Time 3. They rated values associated with their current career goal and completed the Vocational Identity Status Assessment 3 times with a 6-month interval. The autoregressive cross-lagged path analysis found positive reciprocal associations between intrinsic career goals and identification with commitment. Furthermore, intrinsic career goals positively predicted in-depth exploration, and self-doubt negatively predicted intrinsic career goals. These findings support the reciprocal relationships between vocational identity process and career goals in general, and between intrinsic career goals and the commitment dimension of identity more specifically.

Long-term employment, education, and healthcare costs of childhood and adolescent onset of epilepsy

ObjectiveChildhood- and adolescent-onset epilepsy may have a significant impact on long-term educational and vocational status, which in turn has consequences for individuals' socioeconomic status. We estimated the factual long-term socioeconomic consequences and healthcare costs of individuals with diagnosed epilepsy. MethodsThe prospective cohort study included Danish individuals with epilepsy onset before the age of 18 years, diagnosed between 2002 and 2016. Healthcare costs and socioeconomic data were obtained from nationwide administrative and health registers. The prediction was made with a general estimating equation (GEE). A total of 15,329 individuals were found with the diagnosis during this period and were followed until the age of 30 years. These were compared with 31,414 controls. We used 30 years as this represent an age where most has finalized their education, and as such represent the final educational level. Patients and their controls were subdivided into debut age groups of 0–5 and 6–18 years. Individuals were matched for age, gender, and residential location. ResultsCompared with control groups, patients with epilepsy at the age of 30 years tended to have the following: 1) parents with lower educational attainment; 2) a significantly lower educational level when controlling for parental education attainment; 3) lower grade-point averages; 4) a lower probability of being in employment and lower income, even when transfer payments were considered; and 5) elevated healthcare costs, including those for psychiatric care. It was also noted that the long-term educational consequences for patients with epilepsy were associated with parental educational level. Differences were more pronounced for those with early (0–5 years) rather than later (6–18 years) onset epilepsy. ConclusionsEpilepsy is associated with severe long-term socioeconomic consequences: lower educational level, school grades, employment status, and earned income. The presence of epilepsy is associated with parental educational level. Limitations1.Register-based study; epilepsy based on diagnosis within the hospital sector; patients found with diagnosis in general practice were not included.2.Some patients treated in the primary sector may not have been identified.3.Parental education level may have risen after the index date when the patient was first included. Significant outcomes•Childhood and adolescent epilepsy are associated with long-term negative impacts on educational level, employment status, and earned income.•Childhood and adolescent epilepsy are associated with long-term healthcare uses, especially for those with early disease onset.•Childhood and adolescent epilepsy are related to lower levels of parental education.

Exploration of Latent Profiles of the Career Flexibility Inventory Among Korean College Students

The purposes of the present study were to identify latent profiles using dimensions of the Career Flexibility Inventory and to examine the mean differences of the latent profiles and related variables. Career flexibility was identified to have 5 latent profiles: passive wavering, mediocre, rigid thinking, moderately flexible, and productively flexible. The productively flexible profile reported the highest scores and the passive wavering profile reported the lowest scores of life satisfaction and self‐determination. Each profile showed specific trend of mean differences with career indecision, intolerance of uncertainty, life satisfaction, self‐determination, and the 2 dimensions of the Vocational Identity Status Assessment.

&lt;p&gt;Identifying Suicidal Ideation Among Chinese Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: Evidence from a Real-World Hospital-Based Study in China&lt;/p&gt;

BackgroundA growing body of research suggests that major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common psychiatric conditions associated with suicide ideation (SI). However, how a combination of easily accessible variables built a utility clinically model to estimate the probability of an individual patient with SI via machine learning is limited.MethodsWe used the electronic medical record database from a hospital located in western China. A total of 1916 Chinese patients with MDD were included. Easily accessible data (demographic, clinical, and biological variables) were collected at admission (on the first day of admission) and were used to distinguish SI with MDD from non-SI using a machine learning algorithm (neural network).ResultsThe neural network algorithm distinguished 1356 out of 1916 patients translating into 70.08% accuracy (70.68% sensitivity and 67.09% specificity) and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.76. The most relevant predictor variables in identifying SI from non-SI included free thyroxine (FT4), the total scores of Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), vocational status, and free triiodothyronine (FT3).ConclusionRisk for SI among patients with MDD can be identified at an individual subject level by integrating demographic, clinical, and biological variables as possible as early during hospitalization (at admission).

Relationships between volunteering functions and vocational identity in emerging adult volunteers

Volunteering can be a means of identity development in emerging adulthood and it can provide a protective environment for vocational identity formation. The aims of our study were two-fold: (1) to investigate vocational identity statuses of student emerging adult volunteers (N = 385, 75.1 per cent females) and (2) to analyze how these statuses are linked to volunteering functions. First, we classified volunteers into six vocational identity statuses. Second, we found that volunteers in achievement and moratorium statuses scored highest on most of the volunteering functions as they are actively exploring their vocational alternatives. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Seventy-five years of cardiovascular rehabilitation in Mexico.

Patients suffering from cardiovascular disease require comprehensive medical attention that involves therapies and procedures necessary to reintegrate them optimally to their personal, family, work, and social life. Interventions aimed at achieving these goals are included in cardiac rehabilitation programs. These programs are designed to limit the harmful physiological and psychological effects of heart disease, reduce the risk of sudden death or reinfarction, control cardiovascular symptoms, stabilize or reverse the atherosclerosis process, and improve the psychosocial and vocational status of patients. These programs have existed in Mexico since the 1940s and have evolved over the years, adapting to the disease conditions present in our country, starting with therapies to treat patients with rheumatic heart disease until the application of physical exercise in patients with heart failure complexes congenital heart disease or pulmonary arterial hypertension. These activities are of a transdisciplinary nature and involve the integration of cardiologists, physiotherapists, psychologists, and nutritionists among others. At present, these programs have spread throughout the Mexican Republic thank rehabilitation cardiologists graduating from the main health institutions in the country such as health institutes, Mexican Social Security Institute, and Institute of Security and Social Services of State Workers. In this document, the origins of rehabilitation from the pre-Hispanic era to the present will be discussed, highlighting the contributions in teaching and research of the physicians who have practiced in this area in the aforementioned institutions.

Analysis of socioeconomic status and other factors affecting patient-graft survival in patients undergoing liver transplantation.

Background and AimLiver transplantation is performed in increasing numbers due to advances in surgical techniques and the introduction of diverse immunosuppressive drugs. The present study aims to analyze the effects of socioeconomic status and education level on patient and graft survival, in addition to all these factors.Material and MethodsAll patients aged 18 years and above who underwent consecutive liver transplantation at the Liver Transplantation Unit of Department of General Surgery at the Dokuz Eylül University Hospital and whose data were available were included in this study.ResultsIncompliance was noted in 68.3% of the 278 patients. On the other hand, patient compliance did not have a significant effect on graft and patient survival. However, decreased levels in the parameters, such as education status, vocational status and socioeconomic status, were found to be correlated with patient compliance. A significant correlation was not found between these factors and patient and graft survival.ConclusionAlthough a direct effect of socioeconomic status on patient and graft survival could not be shown the significant association of vocational status and education status which determine socioeconomic level with parameters other than patient and graft survival may affect the success of liver transplants.

Determinants and Consequences of Limited Health Literacy in Polish Society.

Background: Health literacy (HL) is perceived as one of the most important concepts for modern health promotion activities to be successful. The research undertaken in the context of HL usually focuses on its antecedents and consequences, either for specific groups of patients or society or for the whole population. Objectives: The main aim of this study was to assess the antecedents and consequences of limited health literacy (HL) in a nationally representative sample of the Polish population. Methods: The analysis was carried out on the data obtained from a sample of 1000 Polish citizens through a telephone-based survey undertaken using a short, 16-item questionnaire developed within the European Health Literacy Project (HLS-EU). The total HLS score was calculated according to the guidelines published by the HLS-EU project. Chi2 test and logistic regression models were used for the analysis of the relationships between the variables. Results: The mean HL score (standard deviation) in the study sample was 12.99 (3.11). HL was related to age, marital and vocational status. Limited HL was associated with a lower self-assessment of health (OR, 95% CI: 2.52, 1.54–4.13), the prevalence of obesity and disability (1.71, 1.13–2.57, and 1.92, 1.25–2.94, respectively), less frequent physical activity (0.70, 0.49–0.99), a lower consumption of fruits and vegetables (0.47, 0.34–0.65), and with more frequent hospitalisations (2.02, 1.38–2.95). Conclusions: The assessment of HL using the16-item HLS-EU questionnaire may be a useful tool to enable health behaviours and utilisation of health care resources by society to be predicted.

대학생의 진로정체감 지위에 관한 잠재프로파일 분석: 성취목표지향성과 성취정서의 영향력 검증

대학생의 진로정체감 지위에 관한 잠재프로파일 분석: 성취목표지향성과 성취정서의 영향력 검증

The Provision of Education and Employment Support At the Outreach and Support in South London (OASIS) Service for People at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis.

Clinical services for the early detection of individuals at clinical high risk of psychosis, such as Outreach and Support in South-London (OASIS), have been successful in providing psychological intervention and psychosocial support to young people experiencing emerging signs of serious mental disorders. Despite this, several studies have repeatedly shown that vocational and functional recovery in the clinical high risk for psychosis population is still low. This study aimed at evaluating the presence and nature of educational and employment focused interventions within the OASIS service, in order to inform research and clinical interventions aimed at supporting young people with early signs of psychosis on their path to vocational recovery. The specific objectives were to compare current practice i) to standards defined by the National Institute of Care Excellence guidelines; and ii) to principles defined by Individual Placement and Support (IPS). Nine standards of practice were derived. The OASIS caseload electronic records entered between January 2015 and January 2017 were manually screened. Data collected include sociodemographic, assessment of employment and educational status and support needs, interventions received, contacts with schools, employers and external vocational providers, employment, and educational status. Standards were considered as “met” if they were met for at least 90% of clients. Results suggest that, two out of nine standards were met while the remaining standards were only partially met. In particular, support provided was always focused on competitive employment and mainstream education and support was always based on people’s interest. Implications for clinical and research practice are discussed.