Differences in receipt of rehabilitation by impaired midlife men and women

This analysis used data from the 1978 Survey of Disability and Work to assess gender differences in the receipt of rehabilitation services. The findings point to a continuing puzzle: Approximately equal proportions of impaired men and women received rehabilitation services; yet even when age, work history, severity of impairment, and receipt of disability insurance or workers' compensation were controlled for, a larger proportion of men than women were in the labor force after rehabilitation. Men were more likely than women to receive employment-related rehabilitation services. Furthermore, prediction of the receipt of rehabilitation services was poorer for women than for men. Variables hypothesized to predict receipt of rehabilitation were significant predictors for men, but not for women.