Self-esteem and vocational development among clients with psychiatric disabilities

Self-esteem is an important component of vocational development. Individuals with psychiatric disabilities have problems with both self-esteem and vocational development. Is there a difference in self-esteem among individuals at various levels of vocational development? This particular question was investigated at the Helen Ross McNabb Center from Fall 1988 through Summer 1989. A random sampling procedure yielded 120 individuals with psychiatric disabilities who were active clients at Helen Ross McNabb Center. The sample was divided into four groups, depending on their level of vocational development with thirty subjects in each group. The four groups were group A (engaged in competitive employment), group B (engaged in vocational training), group C (engaged in day treatment), and group D (engaged in neither competitive employment, vocational training, nor day treatment). All groups were asked to complete the Culture-Free Self-Esteem Inventory by James Battle. A total of seventy-three agreed to participate in the study, twelve in group A, sixteen in group B, twenty-four in group C, and twenty-one in group D. An analysis of variance was computed on the four groups. The results showed no significant relationship between self-esteem and vocational development among individuals with psychiatric disabilities.