The relationship between contextual work behaviours self-efficacy and work personality: an exploratory analysis

Background. Work personality and contextual work behaviours have been identified as constructs that play critical roles in developing the foundation for effective vocational and career behaviour for persons with disabilities. Method. For this study, we used a sample of 84 individuals with disabilities who were eligible to receive vocational rehabilitation services. Demographic variables and questions concerning work personality, contextual work behaviours self-efficacy, employment status and longest time employed were obtained and analysed to determine the relationship between contextual work behaviours self-efficacy, work personality and employment outcomes. Results. The results indicate that work personality explained 24% (F = 2.73; p = 0.013) of the variance of contextual work behaviours self-efficacy with the subscale of Personal Presentation (beta = 0.466) making a significant and unique contribution to CWB total score. Results of a correlation between the work personality profile scale and the contextual work behaviours self-efficacy scale revealed a significant and positive relationship. Levels of work personality and contextual work behaviours self-efficacy were unable to discriminate between employed and unemployed individuals. However, a post-hoc regression analysis did find that work personality and contextual work behaviours self-efficacy accounted for approximately 24% of the variance of longest time employed. Conclusions. The results of this study provide initial support for the relationship between work personality and contextual work behaviours self-efficacy. Overall, work personality appears to be an important construct related to individual's confidence to meet the contextual demand of the work environment and length of employment tenure.