Psychosocial development and compliance in vocational rehabilitation: A pilot study

Objective: Vocational rehabilitation (VR) is an evidence based treatment modality. Participation in VR improves a range of outcomes for persons with mental illness. There is a need to improve client compliance in these programs, and specifically to measure psychosocial development, which is a primary goal of psychosocial rehabilitation. Design: This study used measures of stage of change, which predict client compliance with other forms of behavioral health treatment, and piloted a measure of psychosocial development for association with compliance in vocational rehabilitation. Clients' goals and expectations in the program were also explored. Results: Several of the stage of change measures were correlated with compliance in this program. The measure of psychosocial development used, the Connection-Disconnection Scale, was correlated with several of the stage of change measures. Clients' goals in the program were explicitly psychosocial. Discussion: Findings regarding stage of change and compliance suggest that VR programs should consider incorporating the processes, goals and techniques associated with stage of change. In addition, the findings regarding psychosocial development suggest that encouraging mutual empathy and peer support may also help to improve compliance, as well as meet client goals.