Attitudes of Immediate Family & Friends (Glossary)
Jobseeker
Element:
Positive and Supportive Attitudes of Immediate Family Members
Jobseeker (WP5):
This element is considered to be an important facilitator in 11 countries and a facilitator in the remaining 4 in getting people with disabilities to look for paid employment.
Jobseeker
Element:
Negative and Unsupportive Attitudes of Immediate Family Members
Jobseeker (WP5):
This element is considered to be an important barrier in Malta and Slovakia only and a barrier in 11 other countries in getting people with disabilities to look for paid employment. However although classified as a barrier here, there is a significant difference between active and non-active jobseekers in Italy with active jobseekers seeing it as an important barrier and non-active jobseekers seeing it as a factor of irrelevance.
Jobseeker
| Element | TO | AU | DK | FI | FR | DE | IRL | IT | M | NL | NO | PT | RO | SL | SI | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive and Supportive Attitudes of Immediate Family Members | 3.1 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 2.2 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 3.3 |
Jobseeker
| Element | TO | AU | DK | FI | FR | DE | IRL | IT | M | NL | NO | PT | RO | SL | SI | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative and Unsupportive Attitudes of Immediate Family Members | -2.6 | -2.8 | -2.8 | -2.6 | -1.9 | -2.5 | -2.6 | -2.6 | -3.4 | -2.0 | -2.7 | -2.8 | -2.8 | -2.8 | -3.1 | -1.1 |
N = 12
Both elements above are based on a 9 point scale ranging from –4 (complete barrier) to +4 (complete facilitator).
-4 = complete barrier, -3 = severe barrier, -2 = moderate barrier, -1 = mild barrier, 0 = neutral, +1 = mild facilitator, +2 = moderate facilitator, +3 = substantial facilitator, +4 = complete facilitator
In relation to both elements above countries that give a rating between 2 and 2.99 inclusive are given a light green colour and are considered to be a moderate to substantial facilitator in encouraging people with disabilities to look for paid employment. Countries with a rating between 3 and 4 inclusive are given a “dark green” colour indicating that they are considered to be a substantial to complete facilitator in encouraging people with disabilities to look for paid employment. Those below 2 and above –2 are not highlighted. Countries with a rating between –2 and –2.99 inclusive are given an “orange” colour to indicate that this element is considered to be a moderate to severe barrier in their country and countries with a rating between –3 and –4 inclusive are highlighted in “dark red” to indicate that this element is considered to be a substantial to complete barrier in encouraging people with disabilities to look for paid employment.
Attitudes of Family & Friends
Empirical evidence on the influence that family and friends have on encouraging people with disabilities to look for employment depends on whether that influence is supportive or unsupportive. Supportive attitudes can have far reaching beneficial effects on a person’s decision to seek employment. Research suggests that the availability of close family ties and various forms of support, particularly emotional support, strongly suggest that networks have a significant role in shaping employment outcomes, reducing stress and increasing psychological and social well being. Indeed further research suggests that establishing positive social networks especially with family members can only improve the capacity of professionals to provide effective support and improve rehabilitation outcomes. Unsupportive attitudes on the other hand can leave some family members especially carers overburdened, anxious or stressed at the thought of a loved one looking for or returning to work discouraging a person with a disability to look for work. Overprotective attitudes of close family members can also discourage a person with a disability looking for employment.
Related Articles
- Wehman, Paul & John Bricout (1999) “Supported Employment: Critical Issues and New Directions”
[pdf] - Shankar, J. & Collyer, F. (2003) “Vocational Rehabilitation of People with Mental Illness: The Need for a Broader Approach” Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health Vol. 2 Issue 2
[pdf] - Shankar, J. & Collyer, F. (2002) “Support Needs of People with Mental Illness in Vocational Rehabilitation Programmes – the Role of the Social Network” International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Vol. 7 pp 15-28
[link] - Mooney, M. Jr. (1998) “Family Contributions to the Work Readiness of Youth with Learning Disabilities”
[link] - Vila, M. et al; (2007) “Work Integration of People with Disabilities in the Regular Labour Market: What Can We Do to Improve These Processes?” Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability Vol. 32 Issue 1 pp 10-18
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