Experience of Maintaining Employment for Mentally Disabled People: Q Methodological Approach

Abstract

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics of the experience of maintaining employment for people with mental disabilities. Methods: The research design was a descriptive design using Q-methodology, which is a method of measuring subjectivity. Twenty-one participants classified 34 selected Q-statements on a nine-point scale to create a normal distribution. The PC-QUANL software program(a factor analysis program for the Q technique) was used to analyze the Q-sort data. Results: Three types were extracted that described different expressions of the experience of maintaining employment for people with mental disabilities; these types explained 52.3% of the total variance. Type I is 'Workplace support', Type II is 'Self-management', Type III is 'Experience integration'. Conclusion:The results of this study provide an understanding that there are different types of experiences for maintaining employment for people with mental disabilities and each type has certain characteristics. In future studies, it would be helpful to develop customized nursing interventions for psychiatric nurses while occupational rehabilitation services are being provided.