Exploring reentry: The role of functioning, vocational identity, and core self-evaluations on community integration

Individuals that have experienced incarceration are an underserved population in need of career development to reduce barriers to employment. Given the high rates of disability and health concerns for individuals that have been previously incarcerated, this study explored the relationships between individual health functioning, career development and community integration. Using structural equation modeling structural regression, results showed that functional difficulties negatively impact vocational identity and core self-evaluations. Conversely, core self-evaluations significantly improve community integration and mediate a positive relationship between vocational identity and community integration. In addition to the structural model, hierarchical regression analyses were used and identified both trauma and recovery capital as significant predictors of overall functioning. Career development activities aimed at core self-evaluations and increasing meaning in employment may reduce some of the barriers experienced by individuals post incarceration. Additionally, recovery capital and trauma may also be important screening tools to understand some of the contextual factors influencing an individual’s overall functioning.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Community Health

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2022

Author dc:creator

• Greco, Chelsea Ellen

Contributors dc:contributor

• Strauser, David R
• Kosciulek, John F
• Alston, Reginald J
• O'Sullivan, Deirdre

• reentry
• career development
• rehabilitation
• functioning
• vocational identity
• core self-evaluations

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2021 Chelsea Greco

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/112959

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/112959