| Author: | Kong, Chung-lung Thomas |
| Title: | The subjective quality of life of people with chronic mental illness who are participants of a supported employment program in Hong Kong |
| Degree: | M.Sc. |
| Year: | 2004 |
| Subject: | Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations People with disabilities -- Employment -- China -- Hong Kong Mentally ill -- Employment -- China -- Hong Kong Quality of life -- China -- Hong Kong |
| Department: | Department of Rehabilitation Sciences |
| Pages: | v, 67 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | Supported Employment (SE) is a promising vocational rehabilitation approach for people with chronic mental illness, which helps to facilitate them in securing and sustaining competitive employment. Numerous empirical research conducted have already demonstrated its effectiveness on vocational outcomes. However, there have been inconsistent results on non-vocational aspects of SE, such as their effect on Quality of Life (QOL). The purpose of this study is to investigate the Subjective Quality of Life (SQOL) of people with chronic mental illness, namely, schizophrenia, in Hong Kong, who are employed within a SE program. A total of fifty-five subjects who were participating in the SE program at Kwai Chung Hospital were recruited for the study. Of these, 24 subjects, who had successfully secured competitive employments through the program, formed the experimental group. The remaining 31 subjects, who had not secured and were awaiting employment, formed the control group to provide comparative data. The SQOL of the subjects were measured using the Chinese translated and validated Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI). This was measured at three different time intervals namely, one week, one month and two months following their commencement of employment and waiting period for employment, respectively, in the experimental and control groups. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the demographic characteristics and SQOL of the subjects. A test of repeated measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed to examine within-group differences in SQOL. Between-group differences in demographic characteristic and SQOL were examined using an Independent Sample T-Test and Chi-Square Test. Results indicated that there were no statistically significant differences found in SQOL levels between the experimental and the control groups at all time intervals measured. Similarly, there were also no statistically significant differences in the SQOL Levels of the experimental group prior to and following employment. However, a trend of generally consistent increase in mean SQOL levels was evident in subjects who were employed throughout the entire period of investigation. In contrast, a trend of generally consistent decrease in mean SQOL was apparent in subjects who had not yet secured, and were awaiting, employment in the SE program for up to two months. In conclusion, the findings of this study indicate that SE program appears to be an effective vocational rehabilitation approach in helping people with schizophrenia, who have sustained employment in the program, enhance their Subjective Quality of Life (SQOL). Such effects may, however, be more obvious in people who can sustain their employment for a longer period. Therefore, replication of similar study with a longer period, for example up to six months, is recommended to further investigate the influence of SE program on SQOL levels of people with schizophrenia. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
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| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b17810310.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 2.33 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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