Article

OBJECTIVE: To compare vocational interests as a function of sex and race among
persons with recent spinal cord injury (SCI), because previous research used
almost exclusively white men. Limited research from nearly 2 decades ago
suggested SCI selectively occurs to men whose vocational interests are consistent
with the Realistic theme of the Holland typology, indicative of a preference for
activities and occupations requiring physical strength and dexterity. DESIGN: The
Strong Interest Inventory (SII) was completed an average of 50 days after SCI
onset. SETTING: Data were collected at a specialty hospital and analyzed at a
medical university. PARTICIPANTS: Adults with traumatic SCI (N=500) were assessed
during inpatient rehabilitation. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME
MEASURE: The SII, a 317-item measure of vocational interests. RESULTS: Although
the findings for white men were consistent with elevation of the Realistic theme
when compared with the reference group, the interests of women and black
participants were substantially different. Women scored highest on Social,
Enterprising, and Conventional themes compared with the reference group. Black
participants reported significantly higher elevations than whites on 5 themes
(all except Realistic), with elevations on the Social, Enterprising, and
Conventional themes exceeding standardized norms. The Artistic and Investigative
themes were least descriptive of the overall sample. CONCLUSIONS: Rehabilitation
professionals should be aware of likely differences in patterns of vocational
interests as a function of race and sex, and use vocational interests as a means
of facilitating postinjury adaptation.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS