Assessment of job satisfaction in people with intellectual disabilities: Towards best-practice recommendations

Abstract

Background: The current body of research on job satisfaction of people with intellectual disability is based on highly diverse measures, originating both from the general population and people with intellectual disability. This heterogeneity represents a possible confounder. Best-practice approaches for the assessment of job satisfaction are hence needed.

Method: Using systematic literature review, job satisfaction measures were identified and analyzed with regard to their applicability for people with intellectual disability. Identified best-practice measures (JDI/JIGS as well as RSM-WS) were subsequently applied in the course of a pilot study with 129 employees of sheltered workshops. Comprehension, reliability and validity were assessed.

Results: The three identified instruments exhibit high reliability and validity. Comprehension was sufficient for JDI and JIGS but better for RSM-WS.

Conclusions: The JDI/JIGS represent a feasible measures of job satisfaction allowing for comparisons with the general population. In samples with more severe intellectual disabilities, the RSM-WS is preferable.

Keywords: Job Descriptive Index; Job in General Scale; Residence Satisfaction Measure; assessment; intellectual disability; job satisfaction.