title: Employment barriers, skills, and aspirations among unemployed job seekers with and without social anxiety disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The literature has consistently demonstrated that social anxiety disorder has substantial negative impacts on occupational functioning. However, to date, no empirical work has focused on understanding the specific nature of vocational problems among persons with social anxiety disorder. This study examined the association between perceived barriers to employment, employment skills, and job aspirations and social anxiety among adults seeking vocational rehabilitation services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from intake assessments (June 2010-December 2011) of 265 low-income, unemployed adults who initiated vocational rehabilitation services in urban Michigan were examined to assess perceived barriers to employment, employment skills, job aspirations, and demographic characteristics among participants who did or did not screen positive for social anxiety disorder. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment for other factors, the multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that perceiving more employment barriers involving experience and skills, reporting fewer skills related to occupations requiring social skills, and having less education were significantly associated with social anxiety disorder. Participants who screened positive for social anxiety disorder were significantly less likely to aspire to social jobs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Employment-related characteristics that were likely to have an impact on occupational functioning were significantly different between persons with and without social anxiety problems. Identifying these differences in employment barriers, skills, and job aspirations revealed important information for designing psychosocial interventions for treatment of social anxiety disorder. The findings underscored the need for vocational services professionals to assess and address social anxiety among their clients.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Himle, Dr. Weaver, Ms. O'Donnell, Ms. Vlnka, and Dr. Levine are with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (e-mail: himlej@umich.edu). Dr. Bybee is with the Department of Community Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing. Mr. Laviolette, Mr. Steinberger, and Ms. Golenberg are with JVS Detroit, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Himle
authors.affiliation: Dr. Himle, Dr. Weaver, Ms. O'Donnell, Ms. Vlnka, and Dr. Levine are with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (e-mail: himlej@umich.edu). Dr. Bybee is with the Department of Community Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing. Mr. Laviolette, Mr. Steinberger, and Ms. Golenberg are with JVS Detroit, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Addie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.affiliation: Dr. Himle, Dr. Weaver, Ms. O'Donnell, Ms. Vlnka, and Dr. Levine are with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (e-mail: himlej@umich.edu). Dr. Bybee is with the Department of Community Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing. Mr. Laviolette, Mr. Steinberger, and Ms. Golenberg are with JVS Detroit, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bybee
authors.affiliation: Dr. Himle, Dr. Weaver, Ms. O'Donnell, Ms. Vlnka, and Dr. Levine are with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (e-mail: himlej@umich.edu). Dr. Bybee is with the Department of Community Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing. Mr. Laviolette, Mr. Steinberger, and Ms. Golenberg are with JVS Detroit, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.affiliation: Dr. Himle, Dr. Weaver, Ms. O'Donnell, Ms. Vlnka, and Dr. Levine are with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (e-mail: himlej@umich.edu). Dr. Bybee is with the Department of Community Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing. Mr. Laviolette, Mr. Steinberger, and Ms. Golenberg are with JVS Detroit, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vlnka
authors.affiliation: Dr. Himle, Dr. Weaver, Ms. O'Donnell, Ms. Vlnka, and Dr. Levine are with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (e-mail: himlej@umich.edu). Dr. Bybee is with the Department of Community Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing. Mr. Laviolette, Mr. Steinberger, and Ms. Golenberg are with JVS Detroit, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Laviolette
authors.affiliation: Dr. Himle, Dr. Weaver, Ms. O'Donnell, Ms. Vlnka, and Dr. Levine are with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (e-mail: himlej@umich.edu). Dr. Bybee is with the Department of Community Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing. Mr. Laviolette, Mr. Steinberger, and Ms. Golenberg are with JVS Detroit, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Steinberger
authors.affiliation: Dr. Himle, Dr. Weaver, Ms. O'Donnell, Ms. Vlnka, and Dr. Levine are with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (e-mail: himlej@umich.edu). Dr. Bybee is with the Department of Community Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing. Mr. Laviolette, Mr. Steinberger, and Ms. Golenberg are with JVS Detroit, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Zipora
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Golenberg
authors.affiliation: Dr. Himle, Dr. Weaver, Ms. O'Donnell, Ms. Vlnka, and Dr. Levine are with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (e-mail: himlej@umich.edu). Dr. Bybee is with the Department of Community Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing. Mr. Laviolette, Mr. Steinberger, and Ms. Golenberg are with JVS Detroit, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Debra Siegel
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Levine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000523:psychology*; D014478:Unemployment / Q000523:psychology
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