This study aimed at analysing the psychological profile of early adolescents, which included the locus of control in situations of success and failure and four of the five traits underlying the Five Factor Model (FFM): extroversion, conscientiousness, openness to experience and agreeableness, depending on their level of neuroticism. This research is based on the Rotter’s theory of reinforcement and the FFM of Costa and McCrae.The sample consisted of 286 Polish students (M = 12.97), including 137 girls (48%) and 149 boys (52%). The Five Factor Model personality traits were measured using the Picture-Based Personality Survey for Children. The locus of control was surveyed with the Locus of Control Questionnaire.Students with the lowest level of neuroticism had the most internal locus of control scores. In girls, regardless of the level of neuroticism, extroversion was associated with an internal locus of control of failure. The group of adolescents with the lowest level of neuroticism was characterised by significantly higher levels of extroversion and openness to experience than their peers with medium and high levels of neuroticism and had significantly higher conscientiousness and agreeableness scores compared to adolescents with medium and high levels of neuroticism, respectively.The results are analysed in the context of the impact that the locus of control and personality traits have on the mental health of adolescents.

Background. This study sought to determine the effect of being employed or unemployed on the relationships between selected personal variables (acceptance of one’s illness, self-efficacy, and self-actualization) and the intensity of psychosocial problems experienced by chronically ill persons (ChIP). Participants and procedures. The PCH-R Scale, the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale, the Acceptance-of-Illness Scale, and the Self-Actualization Scale were used to collect information from 236 employed and unemployed ChIP. Results. Acceptance of illness and self-efficacy predicted the intensity of general psychosocial problems and problems in the personal, family, social, and occupational spheres in both employed and unemployed ChIP. Conclusions. The results can significantly contribute to increasing the effectiveness of treatment and support offered to ChIP. Continued employment or reemployment after a period of intense therapy can protect them from a rapid degradation of their personal—and frequently, socio-economic—resources, which are necessary for them to be able to adapt to new challenges and maintain a good quality of life, despite experiencing a chronic illness.

In order to determine whether the reported association between the development of theory of mind (ToM) and speech comprehension in ASD children also exists at the early stages of ToM development, a group of 33 children with ASD and reduced ToM development were tested using the Belief understanding subscale of the SToMM and the Speech comprehension subscale of the IDS-P. The statistical analyses demonstrated that children with ASD presenting different levels of early ToM skills also have different levels of speech comprehension. Accordingly, supporting the development of speech comprehension can facilitate the acquisition of early ToM skills. At the same time, the results of a qualitative analysis also suggested that manipulating objects in space, moving them as well as moving themselves may help children with ASD to complete ToM tasks.

The interactive model of vocational rehabilitation includes two key components: the rehabilitated individual and the vocational rehabilitation environment. The interaction of these two elements should contribute to the improvement of vocational competencies of people with disabilities[1]. Due to the fact that parents are considered as the second main contributors (just after teaching staff) of vocational training as well as life and vocational orientation of children and teenagers[2], the family environment can be treated as a significant part of the vocational rehabilitation of people with intellectual disability. Therefore, the aim of this study was to discover how parents of individuals with intellectual disability participate, if they do, in vocational training of their children.  Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among parents of special vocational schools graduates using the survey ASZ-S-R by W. Otrębski and K. Mariańczyk. The results are based on the answers of 71 parents/guardians of graduates of special vocational schools located in South-East part of Poland. Results: Nearly 88% of respondents declared that they supported the vocational preparation of their children by holding talks about various vocational activities. Circa 40% of them also provided help to their children with disabilities to find employment (e.g. by searching for job advertisements); nevertheless, over a quarter do not engage in such an activity at all. Active participation of parents of graduates with intellectual disability is necessary to prepare their children to undertake vocational activities.