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Updated: Jun 4, 2026

The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
[Work as a possible means of self-esteem].
1Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, Azienda dei Servizi Sanitari n 5 Bassa Friulana, Palmanova, Udine. marco.bertoli@ass5.sanita.fvg.it
Vocational rehabilitation programs can help individuals with mental disorders feel useful and reduce hospitalizations. Customized work projects led to employment for 21 participants, with no reported readmissions to psychiatric departments.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Occupational Therapy
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Context:
- Mental health treatment often involves therapeutic interventions to improve patient outcomes.
- Vocational rehabilitation is a key component in the recovery process for individuals with mental disorders.
- Traditional approaches may not fully address the need for meaningful employment and social integration.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of customized work-based rehabilitation projects for individuals with mental disorders.
- To assess the impact of vocational training and potential employment on psychiatric readmission rates.
- To explore the role of work in fostering a sense of usefulness and recovery.
Summary:
- 120 subjects participated in customized rehabilitation projects across 25 manufacturing processes.
- Participants engaged in daily work activities with opportunities for employment.
- 21 individuals were hired within the first year, demonstrating positive employment outcomes.
- None of the hired subjects required subsequent psychiatric hospitalization.
Impact:
- Vocational rehabilitation programs can significantly reduce psychiatric readmission rates.
- Meaningful work contributes to improved mental well-being and sustained recovery.
- This study highlights the successful integration of work therapy in mental health treatment.
Related Concept Videos
Sources of Self-Esteem II: Performance Feedback
Benefits of Self-Esteem
Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
Need for Self-Esteem

