A systematic review and meta-analysis of employer discrimination towards people living with psychosis.
Background: Employment discrimination against people living with psychosis is well established, with implications for their quality of life. However, a meta-analysis of studies exploring this link has not yet been conducted. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to quantify employer attitudes and potential discrimination towards people living with psychosis.
Methods: We systematically searched multiple electronic databases from inception to July 15, 2024 for studies exploring the links between employer hiring attitudes and decisions related to people living with psychosis. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed on pooled studies which measured different but related outcomes concerning employer attitudes and behaviors towards hiring individuals with psychosis.
Results: A total of 10 studies with 4080 total participants were included in the systematic review which consistently found that employers view individuals with psychosis as less employable compared to those with other health conditions or no disabilities. Meta-analysis of 6 studies which met inclusion criteria pooling a total of 4315 assessments of potential employees living with psychosis revealed a statistically significant medium to large pooled effect size (Hedges g) of 0.57 (95 % CI [0.21 to 0.94], p = 0.010), indicating statistically significant discrimination. Subgroup analysis estimated that 76.00 % (95 % CI [62.90 % to 89.09 %], p < 0.001) of employers expressed negative attitudes towards hiring individuals with psychosis.
Conclusions: This first meta-analysis on the topic reveals statistically significant (p = 0.010) employer discrimination towards individuals with psychosis. Findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address misconceptions and promote inclusive hiring practices. Future research should focus on developing and evaluating strategies to reduce workplace stigma and improve employment outcomes for people living with psychosis.