Psychometric validation of the PERMA-profiler as a well-being measure for student veterans.

Objective: The current study aims to validate the PERMA-Profiler, a well-known well-being measure, among a sample of student veterans. Participants: A sample of 205 student veterans were recruited from universities across the United States. Method: Cross-sectional research design was used in this study. Measurement structure of the PERMA-Profiler was evaluated using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Convergent, divergent, and criterion-related validity was tested using Pearson correlation coefficients and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: The EFA results yielded a two-factor solution for student veterans. Factors are named as emotional character strengths and performance character strengths. Conclusions: The PERMA-Profiler is a multidimensional scale with good reliability and acceptable levels of convergent, divergent, and criterion-related validity. The PERMA-Profiler can help researchers and practitioners better gauge well-being in student veterans. Implications will be discussed.

Personal and environmental contextual factors as mediators between functional disability and quality of life in adults with serious mental illness: a cross-sectional analysis.

PURPOSE: To examine personal and environmental contextual factors as mediators of functional disability on quality of life (QOL) in a sample of individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of 194 individuals with SMI (major depressive disorder = 38.1%; bipolar disorder = 35.6%; schizophrenia spectrum disorder = 25.8%) recruited from four psychosocial rehabilitation clubhouses was undertaken to test a multiple regression model assuming that personal (i.e., resilience, social competence, and disability acceptance) contextual factors and environmental (i.e., family support, support from friends, and support from significant others) contextual factors would mediate the relationship of functional disability on QOL. The bootstrap test for multiple mediators was then used to test for the significance of the indirect effects functional disability on QOL through the mediators. RESULTS: In the simple regression model, functional disability had a strong relationship with QOL; however, after introducing the potential mediators, its effect was significantly reduced indicating partial mediation effects. The final regression model yielded a large effect, accounting for 44% of the variance in QOL. Controlling for all other potential mediating factors, social competence, disability acceptance, family support, and support from friends were found to partially mediate the relationship between functional disability and QOL. Bias-corrected bootstrap procedure results further supported the mediation model. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from the study provide good support for the inclusion of person-environment contextual factors in conceptualizing the relationship between functional disability and QOL for individuals with SMI.

Employment Outcomes After Vocational Training for People With Chronic Psychiatric Disorders: A Multicenter Study.

People with a chronic psychiatric disorder (CPD) have low employment rates worldwide. This multicenter retrospective cohort study examined the employment outcomes of an innovative in-house vocational training program for people with CPD in Taiwan and explored which program parameters significantly predicted outcomes. Data were retrieved from the records of 323 participants who completed the training program. Satisfactory employment rates were found at 1 (52.9%), 3 (60.4%), and 6 (65.6%) mo posttraining, and 38.7% of participants demonstrated high employment sustainability (employed throughout the first 6 mo posttraining). Three program parameters significantly predicted employment outcomes: (1) occupational therapists' pursuit of additional training or short-term apprenticeship pertinent to clients' job interests, (2) posttraining vocational counseling provided by community-based occupational therapists, and (3) the duration of 6 mo posttraining to allow clients to prepare for competitive employment. Occupational therapist-led in-house vocational training is a promising alternative to traditional vocational training for people with CPD.

A Psychometric Validation of the Employers' Stigmatizing Attitudes Toward Cancer Survivors Scale.

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the measurement structure of the Employers' Stigmatizing Attitudes Toward Cancer Survivors Scale (ESATPD-Cancer Scale). Methods A quantitative descriptive design using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). One hundred and seventy-seven Taiwanese human resources (HR) professionals participated in this study. Results EFA revealed a one-factor measurement structure accounting for 50% of the total variance. We conducted a CFA to confirm the one-factor structure; after two pairs of error terms were correlated, the re-specified model was found to fit the data adequately: χ2/df = 1.69, GFI = 0.97, CFI = 0.98, and RMSEA = 0.06. Internal consistency reliability coefficient (Cronbach's alpha) for the ESATPD-Cancer Scale was computed to be 0.80. In addition, stigmatizing attitudes were found to be negatively associated with HR professionals' willingness to hire cancer survivors. Conclusions The results of this study support a one-factor measurement structure for the ESATPD-Cancer Scale in a sample of HR professionals in Taiwan. Findings also support a relationship between ESATPD-Cancer Scale scores and HR professionals' willingness to hire cancer survivors, demonstrating support for the construct validity of the scale.