Demographic characteristics and employment among people with severe mental illness in a multisite study

• Published in: Community mental health journal Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 143 - 159
• Main Authors: Burke-Miller, Jane K, Cook, Judith A, Grey, Dennis D, Razzano, Lisa A, Blyler, Crystal R, Leff, H Stephen, Gold, Paul B, Goldberg, Richard W, Mueser, Kim T, Cook, William L, Hoppe, Sue K, Stewart, Michelle, Blankertz, Laura, Dudek, Kenn, Taylor, Amanda L, Carey, Martha Ann
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Springer Nature B.V 01-04-2006
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Age Distribution; Demographics; Demography; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Disability; Drug abuse; Education; Educational Status; Employment; Employment, Supported - economics; Employment, Supported - psychology; Employment, Supported - statistics & numerical data; Female; Gender; Health care industry; Health services; Humans; Labor force; Literature reviews; Male; Mental disorders; Mental health care; Mental Illness; Mentally Ill Persons - classification; Mentally Ill Persons - psychology; Mentally Ill Persons - statistics & numerical data; Meta-analysis; Middle Aged; People with disabilities; Population; Psychiatry; Regression Analysis; Rehabilitation, Vocational - methods; Success factors; Unemployment; United States; Vocational rehabilitation; Work Capacity Evaluation; United States
• ISSN: 0010-3853; 1573-2789
• DOI: 10.1007/s10597-005-9017-4

People with psychiatric disabilities experience disproportionately high rates of unemployment. As research evidence is mounting regarding effective vocational programs, interest is growing in identifying subgroup variations. Data from a multisite research and demonstration program were analyzed to identify demographic characteristics associated with employment outcomes, after adjusting for the effects of program, services, and study site. Longitudinal analyses found that people with more recent work history, younger age, and higher education were more likely to achieve competitive employment and to work more hours per month, while race and gender effects varied by employment outcome. Results provide strong evidence of demographic subgroup variation and need.