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Commitment to work and the self-perception of disability
Social Security Bulletin
|June 1, 1981
Summary
Many severely disabled individuals work, with factors like education and male sex predicting this commitment. Public income support recipients were less likely to work, highlighting key determinants of employment among disabled populations.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Economics
- Public Health
Background:
- Population surveys reveal many disabled individuals report working despite severe disability.
- Understanding the characteristics associated with this work commitment is crucial for policy and support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the predictors of work activity among severely disabled individuals.
- To identify demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related factors influencing employment decisions in this population.
Main Methods:
- Multinomial logit analysis applied to data from the 1972 Survey of Disabled and Nondisabled Adults and its 1974 Followup Survey.
- Analysis included cross-sectional (1972, 1974) and longitudinal (1972-1974) data.
- Comparison of full-time versus part-time work among the severely disabled.
Main Results:
- Lower severity of health problems, higher education, being male, and financial need predicted working despite severe disability.
- Receipt of public income maintenance was negatively associated with work activity.
- Age and health severity influenced the likelihood of working full-time versus part-time.
Conclusions:
- Individual characteristics significantly predict work commitment among the severely disabled.
- The decision to work or not work appears more discriminating than the type of work schedule for this group.
- Findings remained consistent across cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.