Measuring Phases of Employment Decision-Making and the Need for Vocational Services as a Social Determinant of the Health of Employed People Living with HIV

K B Boomer; Liza M Conyers; Yili Wang; Yung-Chen Jen Chiu

doi:10.3390/ijerph192215074

Measuring Phases of Employment Decision-Making and the Need for Vocational Services as a Social Determinant of the Health of Employed People Living with HIV

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Nov 16;19(22):15074. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192215074.

Authors

K B Boomer¹, Liza M Conyers², Yili Wang³, Yung-Chen Jen Chiu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Mathematics, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA.
² Department of Counselor Education, Counseling Psychology, and Rehabilitation Services, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
³ Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
⁴ Department of Educational Foundations and Counseling, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10065, USA.

Abstract

(1) Background: Secure employment has been recognized as a social determinant of health for people living with HIV (PLHIV), but limited research has been conducted to understand the employment needs and vocational decision-making process of those who are employed. The purpose of this study is to examine the applicability of the client-focused considering-work model to assess the employment outcomes and employment decision-making phases of a sample of employed PLHIV. (2) Methods: This study analyzed data of 244 employed PLHIV who completed National Working Positive Coalition's Employment Needs Survey which included a 20-item Considering Work Scale-Employed version (CWS-Employed) and a single-item Classification of Employment Status Scale (CESS). Factor analysis was used to evaluate the CWS-Employed. Chi-square tests of homogeneity of proportions were conducted to assess the domain-specific needs of individuals in each phase of employment decision-making. (3) Results: Our findings revealed high rates of insecure employment and diverse vocational service needs among research participants. Additionally, the CWS-Employed accurately predicted 71% of the self-reported classification of phases of employment decision-making. (4) Conclusions: When investigating the role of employment as a social determinant of health, more research is needed to better understand the vocational needs and outcomes of PLHIV who are working. Improving the measurement of the phases of employment decision-making is needed to better identify appropriate vocational interventions that can lead to improved employment and related health outcomes for this population.

Keywords: HIV; employment; social determinant of health; work.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Employment
HIV Infections*
Humans
Social Determinants of Health*
Social Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

This research was supported by funds from the Pennsylvania State University College of Education and the City University of New York, PSC-CUNY Research Award. The funding was used to provide incentives to survey respondents.