Acceptability of the psychosocial consequences of traumatic head injury among employer groups : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology, Massey University

Abstract

A questionaire was used to survey 213 employers to identify differing levels of acceptability of the psychosocial consequences of traumatic head injury across employer groups. Gender differences in responses and the acceptability of two factors that could affect the level of acceptability were sought. These two factors were the importance of good public relations skills and the necessity to be able to work as part of a team. The questionaire was developed from the literature, with additional content validity being obtained by trialling the questionaire on local head injury rehabilitation professionals. Case studies were also sought of people who had received a THI and had returned to work. It was found that the professional/ managerial group had a significantly higher level of unacceptable responses than the sales/ service group which in turn had a mean level of unacceptability significantly higher than manufacturing/ construction/ trades. A difference existed between manufacturing/ construction/ trades and farming but the difference did not reach significance. Employers requiring good public relations skills had a significantly greater mean level of unacceptability than those who did not. Those who required employees to be able to work as part of a team had a greater mean level of unacceptable responses but this did not reach significance. The gender difference between employers also did not reach significance but the number of women employers was very small. Case studies reflected the unacceptability of the effects of a THI to employers. Symptoms experienced by those in the case studies supported those reported in the literature. These results have important implications for those working in the vocational rehabilitation of people with THI.