Work values of people with severe mental disorders registered in vocational programs: Validation of the work values questionnaire

Though several instruments have been developed for measuring work values in the general population, at present no instrument has been validated for people with mental disorders seeking a job. Employment specialists could use such a questionnaire to help people with severe mental disorders to get competitive employment, and consequently to maintain employment, as a pitfall for this population is job tenure. The Questionnaire de Valeurs de Travail (QVT), translated into English as the Work Values Questionnaire (WVQ), measures five work values: climate, status, risk, realization, and freedom. Our study's objectives were (a) to validate the QVT in individuals with mental disorders seeking a job; (b) to create a short version of the QVT; (c) to classify people on the basis of their work-value patterns, and (d) to compare these profiles on the basis of work outcomes and related personal characteristics. Individuals with severe mental disorders (N = 254) registered in vocational programs filled in the QVT. The confirmatory factor analysis showed reasonable fit indices for the 58-item QVT and good fit indices for the 30-item QVT shortened form. People who placed a higher importance on work values were employed more often in competitive employment.