Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2009, Counselor Education (Education)

Research indicates that people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder have a high rate of unemployment. This qualitative phenomenological study was designed to explore the perceptions of eight individuals with either disorder who have secured employment after diagnosis. The rationale for this study arises from the researcher‘s desire to find the process which was used by individuals with either disorder to become employed. It was the researcher‘s assumption that uncovering such a process could lead to implementation of employment as a therapeutic goal of treatment with such individuals.The purposefully selected sample consisted of eight individuals from a Midwestern state who have been diagnosed with either disorder. The primary method of data collection was three in-depth interviews. The data were organized according to the research and field-developed questions asked of participants. Analysis and interpretation of findings were completed using the van Kaam method of qualitative data processing. The research revealed that participants in the study interpreted recovery as living in asmuch of a perceived degree of normalcy as possible. Recovery was found to be a developmental concept among participants. The six following categories were developed from the data: self-help; employment; assistance with employment; benefits of employment; functioning at a perceived normal level while living as full a life as possible with the illness; and recovery to employment. Five themes were found: self-care; supports; issues of employment; rewards of employment; and recovery process. Fourteen sub-themes emerged from the analysis of data. They were as follows: medication compliance; stress reduction; approaching employment gradually and carefully; stigma; disclosure of condition; formal accommodations; change of employers due to problems of disability; lack of failure; family and friends; governmental support; private supports; intrinsic rewards of employment; extrinsic rewar (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Tracy C. Leinbaugh PhD (Committee Chair); Jerry Olsheski PhD (Committee Member); Patricia Beamish PhD (Committee Member); Gregory Janson PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Rehabilitation