The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an internet- assisted Career-Oriented Work-Related Soft-skills Training (iCareer) intervention, infused with cognitive behavioral therapy, targeting individuals ages 16-24 with mental health conditions, to improve employment outcomes. The overall objective is to help transition-age youth (TAY) with psychiatric disabilities achieve optimal employment outcomes as part of successful transition to adulthood. Findings will have implications for enhancing and developing pre-employment services for TAY with psychiatric disabilities.
The investigators propose to perform an open trial research study directed toward producing new knowledge about the Direct Skills Teaching intervention for employment related interpersonal "soft" skills. Soft skills are generally defined as social, emotional, interpersonal, adaptive, and problem-solving skills (Grugulis et al., 2009). The investigators will examine the feasibility of integrated Direct Skills Training modules in social, emotional, interpersonal, adaptive, and problem-solving skills (Soft Skills at Work (SSW)) on improving employment participation and success among transition age youth and young adults (TAY) with disabilities ages 18-24.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
126
The telehealth iCareer intervention will be delivered during regular educational or vocational services (i.e., services from the Office of Disability Services (ODS) and/or from the school or college counseling center). Six modules of Soft Skills Training (SST), four group sessions for each module with 60 to 90 min for each session (depending on group size) will be delivered by trained project staff (graduate counseling student assistant or graduate counseling intern) via HIPAA-compliant Zoom videoconferencing. If participants are unable to join by Zoom videoconferencing, telephone (a format widely used in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatment delivery and in CBT for depression) will be utilized. Ethical guidelines for providing telehealth over videoconferencing or phone will be followed.
Rutgers Univeristy, Newark- Office of Disability Services
Newark, New Jersey, United States
RECRUITINGHigher Rates of Employment
Participants in iCareer will have higher rates of employment than participants in TAU alone as evidenced by self-report of acquiring a job.
Time frame: 12 months post intervention
Higher Number of Hours Worked
Participants in iCareer will have higher numbers hours worked than particiapants in TAU alone as evidenced by self-report of hours worked.
Time frame: 12 months post intervention
Increased Wages Earned
Participants in iCareer will have higher wages earned than participants in TAU alone as evidenced by self-report of wages earned.
Time frame: 12 months post intervention
Improved Job Related Social Skills
Participants in iCareer will have better job-related social skills than in TAU alone as evidenced by higher scores on the Job Related Social Skills Checklist (Reganick, 1995).
Time frame: 12 months post intervention
Reduced Depressive Symptoms
Participants in iCareer will report less depression and overall symptoms than participants in TAU services alone as evidenced by lower scores on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; Kroeneke et al., 2001)
Time frame: 12 months post intervention
Improved Functional Status
Participants in iCareer will report improved functional status related to their disability than participants in TAU alone as evidenced by lower scores on the Sheehan Disability Scale (Sheehan,1983) and lower scores on the BASIS-32 (Eisen et al., 1994).
Time frame: 12 months post intervention
Reduced Mental Illness Stigma
Participants in iCareer will report less stigma related to mental illness than participants in TAU alone as evidenced by lower scores on the Brief Version of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI-10; Boyd et al., 2014).
Time frame: 12 months post intervention
Increased Work Empowerment
Participants in iCareer will report increased work empowerment compared to participants in TAU services alone as evidenced by higher scores on the Work Related Self-Efficacy Scale (WSS; Waghorn et al., 2005).
Time frame: 12 months post intervention
Increased Job Satisfaction
Participants in iCareer will report increased job satisfaction compared to participants in TAU services alone as evidenced by higher scores on the Occupational Self-Efficacy Scale- Short Form (OSES; Schyns \& von Collani, 2002).
Time frame: 12 months post intervention
Increased Job Motivation
Participants in iCareer will report increased motivation to get employment compared to participants in TAU services alone as evidenced by lower scores on the Perceived Employment Barriers Survey (PEBS; Hong et al., 2014) and higher scores on the Short Employment Hope Scale (Hong \&Choi, 2013).
Time frame: 12 months post intervention
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.