When someone is recovering from an injury or illness and trying to get back to work, their family and close friends are often their biggest support system. But a new review of research finds that vocational rehabilitation programs rarely include these significant others in a meaningful way.
The review looked at 8 studies on vocational rehab interventions that involved significant others. It found that including them is still rare. And when programs did include them, the approach was all over the map. Most programs didn't have a clear reason for why or how they involved family members. They just did it without a solid plan.
This matters because significant others can play a huge role in helping someone return to work. But without a structured, theory-based approach, their involvement may not be as helpful as it could be. The review highlights a need for programs that are more intentional about including family and friends in a targeted way.
It's important to note that this review doesn't say that including significant others doesn't work. It just shows that the research so far is limited and not well thought out. More work is needed to figure out the best way to involve them.
