Is there any job for me? Qualitative exploration of support needs among young Swedish adults with psychosis envisioning productive activities.
A Birgitta Gunnarsson, Jan-Åke Jansson, Mona Eklund
PMID 38160389WHAT IT FOUND
Young adults with psychosis wanted a worker role but needed support to get there.
They valued flexible workplaces, understanding mentors, and help managing stress. They felt stuck between wanting to contribute and fearing failure, needing structure at home first. This describes their experience, not a proven treatment effect.
Key findings
01Participants desired a worker role in the community but felt they needed to recover and establish structure in their daily lives before they could handle employment.
02Supportive workplaces were defined by flexibility, such as adjusting tasks to capacity, allowing time to learn, and having mentors who understood their needs.
03Participants reported that personal limitations like difficulty with stress, concentration, and planning hindered their ability to maintain productive activities.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study included only 18 participants, so the findings cannot be generalised to all young adults with psychosis. Participants were selected by staff gatekeepers, which may have excluded those with more severe illness or those who declined. The study did not include perspectives from employers, caregivers, or colleagues, so it only reflects the participants' views. No participants were younger than 21, so the experience of the youngest adults in this demographic is missing.
Declared interests
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these themes as evidence that specific workplace adjustments or mentoring strategies improve employment outcomes. This study describes what participants said they needed; it does not test whether providing those supports actually helps them get or keep jobs.