Perceived Organisational Support and Job Satisfaction in Workers with Severe Mental Disorders: A Pilot Study

Background: Employment can support the recovery of individuals with Severe Mental Disorders by promoting autonomy, reducing hospital admissions and associated costs, fostering social connections, and providing structure to their daily lives. The objective of this pilot study was to analyse job satisfaction and perceived social support in people with severe mental disorders who are users of an Employment Guidance and Support Service in southern Spain. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional pilot study was carried out with a sample of 39 workers with mental disorders from the province of Huelva (southern Spain) who were users of the Employment Guidance and Support Service of the Regional Government of Andalusia (Spain). Perceived Organisational Support was assessed with the Spanish short version of the Survey of Perceived Organizational Support and the S10/12 Job Satisfaction Questionnaire. Results: As findings, 87.2% of the sample reported high levels of job satisfaction, and 61.5% of the subjects surveyed perceived high levels of support. Regarding the variable Perceived Support, 84% of workers from ordinary companies and 50% of those from Special Employment Centres (SECs) considered that they had sufficient support. There was a positive correlation between support and satisfaction (Spearman’s Rho = 0.423). Conclusion: The results suggest a positive relationship between support and satisfaction, warranting further longitudinal research with larger samples. This pilot study provides preliminary insights into the relationship between perceived organizational support and job satisfaction among workers with severe mental disorders.