'Acceptance of loss' and industrial rehabilitation: an empirical study.

414 disabled persons admitted into one Industrial Rehabilitation Unit over a period of 44 weeks were administered with Osuji's (1969; 1975) 'Acceptance of Loss'-Scale (ALS) during their first and fifth week at the center. The rehabilitees' performances at the center in terms of lateness, absenteeism, and employability rating by the final case conference panel were recorded. Two hypotheses were tested viz: that the ability to stick to a course of industrial rehabilitation (i.e. complete the course) and the ability to perform well at the course among those who complete the course will be a function of the level of acceptance of loss. The two hypotheses were upheld, indicating a high predictive validity of the ALS. The results are discussed in the light of the self-concept theory of Lecky, the cognitive balance and cognitive dissonance theories of Heider and Festinger respectively.