A Strength-Based Intervention to Improve Job Interview Skills in Neurodiverse Young Adults
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- ADHD
- Sponsor
- Kessler Foundation
- Enrollment
- 50
- Primary Endpoint
- Global Assessment of Character Strengths (GACS)
- Status
- Not yet recruiting
- Last Updated
- last year
Overview
Brief Summary
the investigators are looking to evaluate the effectiveness of a strength-based program in improving job interview skills in neurodiverse young adults. This program is designed to help participants understand and speak to others about their personal qualities and abilities. The investigators are examining the effects of this program in young adults who may have difficulty with job interviews, and who may want to improve these skills. Some of these young adults have received special education services in the past for learning differences, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or dyslexia.
Detailed Description
Practicing job interview skills has been identified as an important target for job employment services in N-TAY. However, the majority of studies using interventions in neurodiverse individuals have taken a deficit-based approach (i.e. to fix what is deficient in a person). This approach has triggered increasing criticism and dissatisfaction from the disability community. Further, focusing on deficits will not result in identification, awareness, or expression of strengths, important skills needed for self-advocacy and transition to adulthood. KF-STRIDE takes a strength-based approach, using principles of positive psychology to help N-TAY identify and express their unique character strengths to future employers. Over the course of a recently funded pilot study, the team has evaluated the efficacy of KF-STRIDE in those on the autism spectrum. The investigators have found that individuals on the spectrum who train with KF-STRIDE show improved job interview skills, and preliminary data indicates that they also have improved chances of obtaining employment in the community. However, KF-STRIDE has never been evaluated in youth other than those on the spectrum, including those with ADHD, dyslexia or other learning differences which may benefit from the training. The investigators aim to evaluate the preliminary effectiveness of KF-STRIDE in a randomized controlled trial comparing KF-STRIDE to services as usual (SAU) to improve employment, as well as identify mechanistic targets which may lead to improved employment, and to evaluate the fidelity, acceptability, usability, and feasibility of the proposed intervention, KF-STRIDE, via initial process evaluation.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Lives in the United States of America
- •Between the ages of 14-26 Speaks English well
- •At a 4th grade reading level
Exclusion Criteria
- •Had a stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, or neurological injury or disease in the past(like brain tumor or epilepsy)
- •Has a history of significant psychiatric illness(like schizophrenia or psychosis)
- •Has uncontrolled seizures or other unstable medical complications
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Global Assessment of Character Strengths (GACS)
Time Frame: Baseline, Immediate Post-test between weeks 7 and 8
24 items measuring one's identification of personal character strengths, with values ranging from 1 to 5, with higher scores meaning a better outcome
Mock Job Interview
Time Frame: [Time Frame: Baseline, Immediate Post-Test between weeks 7 and 8]
Blinded reviewers using a standardized scoring measure will rate the video recorded mock job interviews, where the minimum total value is a 0 and the maximum total value is 77, with higher scores meaning a better outcome.
Work Readiness Scale
Time Frame: Baseline, Immediate Post-test between weeks 7 and 8
13 items about the perception of one's ability to work, with values ranging from 1 to 5, with higher scores meaning a better outcome.
Employment Status
Time Frame: Baseline, Immediate Post-Test between weeks 7 and 8, and 6 months Post-Test
We will examine whether the person became employed or other changes to their employment status. Yes=1, No=0
Strength Knowledge and Strengths Use Scale (SKUS)
Time Frame: Baseline, Immediate Post-test between weeks 7 and 8
Measure to assess knowledge and use of one's strengths and measure changes following strengths-based interventions. Two scores: Strengths Use and Strengths Knowledge. Strengths Use values range from 14-98, with higher score indicating a better outcome. Strengths Knowledge values range from 8-56, with higher score indicating a better outcome
Time-to-reach Employment
Time Frame: 6 months Post-Test
We will examine how long it took for the person to obtain employment. Assessed as weeks since intervention completion.
Youth Interview- Self Efficacy and Anxiety
Time Frame: Baseline, Immediate Post-test between weeks 7 and 8
25 items combined, about confidence and interview comfort in adolescents, with values ranging from 0 to 5 for each item, and higher scores meaning a better outcome.
Job Search Behavior Scale
Time Frame: Baseline, Immediate Post-test between weeks 7 and 8
12 items measuring how often one engages in job search activities- language modified for use in youth, with values ranging from 1-5, with higher scores meaning a better outcome.