ABSTRACT

Supported Employment (SE) is an innovative treatment designed to improve employment rates of persons with severe mental disorders. SE is characterized by the immediate placement of individuals in competitive employment without extensive preemployment training. A job coach is at the work site to teach all necessary work skills and provide psychological support. Critics of SE argue that the immediate placement of persons with severe mental disorders in competitive employment unduly subjects them to work stress, which can worsen symptoms and result in employment loss. This research evaluated a group of successful SE subjects to determine: (a) whether SE negatively affected subjects; (b) how frequently stressful events occurred on the job, how important these stressful events were, and how much stress was experienced; and (c) what methods patients used to cope with the work stresses they experienced. Results generally indicate a positive effect of SE on self-concept, as well as relations with family and friends. Ratings of the frequency and importance of various types of job stress were shown to have an interactive effect on the experience of job stress. Finally, the subjects studied used adaptive and appropriate coping skills to deal with work stress.