Perceptions of Barriers to Employment, Coping Efficacy, and Career Search Efficacy in People with Mental Illness

Abstract

The Barriers to Employment and Coping Efficacy Scale (BECES) and the Career Search Efficacy Scale (CSES) were designed to assist people in their work integration process. The BECES was specifically developed for people with mental illness. Although the CSES was not specifically designed for people with mental illness, its items appear relevant for such clients seeking work. This article reports the construct and convergent validities of these two questionnaires as well as the internal consistency pertaining to each of their subscales. The BECES and CSES demonstrated satisfactory results regarding their validity and reliability with people suffering from mental illness registered in vocational programs. Practical guidelines based on this experience are discussed.