Development and psychometric properties of self-reported job interview skills and job interview anxiety for autistic transition-age youth

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Genova, Helen M.^{a; b} | Kallen, Michael A.^c | Sherwood, Kari L.^{d; e} | DaWalt, Leann^f | Bishop, Lauren^{f; g} | Telfer, David^h | Brown, Cherylⁱ | Sanchez, Barbara^j | Smith, Matthew J.^{d; *}

Affiliations: [a] Kessler Foundation, East Hanover, NJ, USA | [b] Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA | [c] Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA | [d] School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA | [e] Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA | [f] Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA | [g] School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA | [h] Independent Autism Advocate, Warren, RI, USA | [i] Ann Arbor Public Schools, Ann Arbor, MI, USA | [j] Ann Arbor Academy, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Matthew J. Smith, School of Social Work, University of Michigan, 1080 South University Avenue, Room 3796, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106, USA. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: https://leveluplab.org.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:The study of job interview training is an emerging area among transition-age autistic youth who face significant challenges when navigating job interviews. The autism field has limited measures that have undergone rigorous psychometric evaluation. OBJECTIVE:We sought to evaluate the psychometric properties of adapted self-report measures assessing job interview skills and job interview anxiety. METHODS:As part of two parent randomized controlled trials, eighty-five transition-age autistic youth completed measures related to the strength of their job interview skills and their level of job interview anxiety. We conducted classical test theory analyses, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and Rasch model analytic and calibration analyses. Pearson correlations were used to establish concurrent, divergent, and criterion validity by correlating these scales with measures of social challenges, depressive symptoms, behaviors, neuropsychological functioning, and work history. RESULTS:Our analyses yielded two brief and reliable scales: Measure of Job Interview Skills (MOJO-iSkills) and Measure of Job Interview Anxiety (MOJO-iAnxiety), which demonstrated initial concurrent, divergent, and criterion validities when correlated with measures of depressive symptoms, social challenges, internalizing and externalizing behavior, and work history. CONCLUSION:This study presents initial evidence that MOJO-iSkills and MOJO-iAnxiety have acceptable psychometric properties supporting they can be used to reliably and validly assess job interview skills and interview anxiety.

Keywords: Autism, employment, job interview skills, anxiety

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-230009

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 58, no. 2, pp. 199-217, 2023