Characteristics Associated With Perceived Underemployment Among Participants With Spinal Cord Injury

Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation, 2022 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arrct.2022.100230 · Published: January 1, 2022

Spinal Cord Injury Occupational Health Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study investigates underemployment among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), focusing on the discrepancy between their skills and job requirements or their desire for full-time work versus part-time employment. The researchers aimed to identify job characteristics linked to self-reported underemployment in people with SCI, while considering factors like demographics, injury specifics, and education levels. The findings highlight that underemployment is a significant concern, particularly in low-paying jobs without benefits or opportunities for advancement, suggesting the need for vocational counseling to focus on securing quality employment for this population.

Study Duration

Data collected between December 2015 and October 2017

Participants

952 adults with traumatic SCI, minimum 1-year post-injury, employed

Evidence Level

Cross-sectional, logistic regression

Key Findings

1
Women and those in married or unmarried couples were significantly less likely to report underemployment.
2
Individuals with health benefits were less likely to perceive themselves as underemployed, highlighting the importance of comprehensive job benefits.
3
Lower earnings were strongly associated with higher rates of perceived underemployment, with those earning less than $20,000 per year reporting the highest rates.

Research Summary

This study examined factors related to perceived underemployment among 952 employed adults with traumatic SCI, using a cross-sectional design and logistic regression analysis. The results indicated that demographic, injury, and educational factors alone explained a small portion of the variance in underemployment, while job characteristics such as earnings, health benefits, and occupation type were more significant predictors. The study concludes that underemployment is a relevant concern for people with SCI, especially in low-paying jobs without benefits, emphasizing the need for vocational counseling to focus on quality employment outcomes.

Practical Implications

Vocational Counseling

Counselors should focus on securing quality employment with tangible benefits for individuals with SCI, rather than solely prioritizing employment status.

Employer Practices

Employers should provide opportunities for promotion and recognition to enhance job satisfaction and reduce perceptions of underemployment among employees with SCI.

Policy Considerations

Address work disincentives that may hinder career progression and contribute to underemployment among individuals with disabilities.

Study Limitations

1
Self-report data may be subject to recall bias.
2
Underemployment was measured by subjective appraisals, so the findings help us to deﬁne underemployment from the perspective of the individual with SCI.
3
Cross-sectional design limits the ability to determine how employment factors affect future perceptions of underemployment.

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