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Open Access 25-04-2024 | Psychiatric Treatment | Systematic Review

Preference for Competitive Employment in People with Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Proportions

Authors: Christine Adamus, Dirk Richter, Kim Sutor, Simeon Joel Zürcher, Sonja Mötteli

Published in: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation

Abstract

Purpose

The inclusion of people with mental disorders (MD) into competitive employment has become an important political and therapeutic goal. The present paper investigates meta-analytically to which extent people with MD who were unemployed or on sick leave due to MD prefer to work in a competitive job environment.

Methods

For this systematic review and meta-analysis of proportions, we searched Medline, PsycInfo, Cinahl, Google Scholar, and reference lists for peer-reviewed publications from 1990 to Dec 2023, which provided data on the job preferences of people with MD. Two authors independently conducted full-text screening and quality assessments. Pooled proportions of job preferences were calculated with a random-effects meta-analysis of single proportions, and subgroup analyses were performed to examine characteristics associated with job preferences.

Results

We included 30 studies with a total of 11,029 participants in the meta-analysis. The overall proportion of participants who expressed a preference for competitive employment was 0.61 (95%-CI: 0.53–0.68; I² = 99%). The subgroup analyses showed different preference proportions between world regions where the studies were conducted (p < 0.01), publication years (p = 0.03), and support settings (p = 0.03).

Conclusion

Most people with MD want to work competitively. More efforts should be given to preventive approaches such as support for job retention. Interventions should be initiated at the beginning of the psychiatric treatment when the motivation to work is still high, and barriers are lower.

Trail Registration

The protocol is published in the Open Science registry at https://osf.io/7dj9r

Available only for authorised users

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Title: Preference for Competitive Employment in People with Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Proportions
Authors: Christine Adamus
Dirk Richter
Kim Sutor
Simeon Joel Zürcher
Sonja Mötteli
Publication date: 25-04-2024
Publisher: Springer US
Keywords: Psychiatric Treatment
Schizophrenia
Published in: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation
Print ISSN: 1053-0487
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3688
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-024-10192-0

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Preference for Competitive Employment in People with Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Proportions

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Trail Registration

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Trail Registration

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