Workplace social support for people with physical disability

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The employment experiences of individuals with physical disabilities in previous studies shed light on the challenges they face and the assistance they receive in the workplace. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the practical and emotional social support received by individuals with physical disabilities in their workplaces from colleagues, employers, or supervisors. The study explored different forms of social support, considering both positive and negative outcomes. METHODS: Twenty participants completed a questionnaire consisting of open and closed-type questions to gather demographic and personal data. In-depth interviews were conducted as free discussions. Employing content analysis, the researchers categorized the reported forms of workplace social support into four primary categories and calculated their frequency of occurrence. RESULTS: Participants reported 175 cases of practical support and 358 cases of emotional support, both with positive and negative outcomes. Among these cases, 376 referred to social support, practical and emotional, with positive outcomes, and 157 to social support, practical and emotional, with negative outcomes. CONCLUSION: The participants received more cases of social support, practical and emotional, with positive outcomes than corresponding cases of social support with negative outcomes. At the same time, the reported cases of emotional support with positive and negative outcomes outnumbered the corresponding cases of practical support. These findings could be the starting point for future studies in workplace social support for people with physical disabilities.