Quality of Life and Competitive Work Among Adults With Severe Mental Illness: Moderating Effects of Family Contact

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Competitive employment may improve life quality for adults with severe mental illness, but it is not known for whom or under what circumstances. On the basis of previous research demonstrating benefits of family contact for African-American adults with severe mental illness, it was hypothesized that frequent family contact would moderate (enhance) a positive association between competitive employment and global quality of life for a rural sample of predominantly African-American adults. METHODS In a secondary analysis of data collected from a randomized trial of supported employment, a series of nested random regression analyses was conducted to test the hypothesized moderating effect of face-to-face family contact on the association between competitive employment and global quality of life, controlling for severity of psychiatric symptoms and satisfaction with family relations. RESULTS Most of the 143 study participants spent time with a family member at least once a month (80%)-and most at least weekly (60%). Participants who held a competitive job and had face-to-face contact with family members at least weekly reported higher global quality of life than all other study participants. CONCLUSIONS In this rural sample of African-American adults with severe mental illness, competitive work was associated with higher global quality of life only for those who frequently spent time with family members. Research is needed to test the generalizability of this finding to other geographic settings and cultures, as well as the feasibility and effectiveness of formal inclusion of family members in psychosocial rehabilitation interventions.

Does Competitive Work Improve Quality of Life for Adults with Severe Mental Illness? Evidence from a Randomized Trial of Supported Employment

“…19 To our knowledge, no empirical study has investigated whether supported employment is more effective for promoting a positive association between competitive work and quality-of-life improvement when implemented in a work-oriented social setting.…”

Family challenges experienced by women with serious mental illness

“…On the other hand, families can have positive effects on a person with mental health issues and serve as a vital source of support (Sapin et al, 2016). Frequent family contact among people with SMI is linked to more positive outcomes, including higher quality of life and employment rates (Gold, 2013). Among the positive kinds of influence, families appear to be particularly helpful in encouraging a person with SMI to begin and sustain mental health treatment (Carpentier, 2013;Sapin et al, 2016).…”