Adult learners, particularly working adults pursuing higher education, face barriers which may be different from their traditional counterparts. In addition to issues of time and money which many students find challenging, working adults also balance job responsibilities and may have to juggle family responsibilities. These barriers, combined with the fact that some higher education institutions are still not fully recognizing this growing student population in regards to scheduling and services, leave working adults with limited access to higher education opportunities. This study was conducted in a rural Midwestern area which, like much of the United States, had experienced an economic downturn. Research was conducted using two groups of working adults within a 60-mile radius of Southern Illinois University Carbondale: those who were currently enrolled in a degree seeking program and those who were not currently furthering their education but may have had a desire to do so. The goal was to gain understanding about the demographics of these two groups, the barriers that may hinder their educational goals, and what higher education institutions can do to address those barriers in order to develop the knowledge and skills of working adults educationally with a goal to, in turn, develop the regional economically and educationally.

Hearing impairment is a chronic health condition that affects increasingly younger age groups. Prevalence rates in the working population are estimated to be between four and nine percent when defined by audiometric loss, and between 30 – 40% when using self-report of hearing problems. Hearing impairment can limit and threaten the social functioning of the affected person. It interferes with oral communication, causing activity limitations and participation restrictions. Additionally, a stigma is attached to hearing loss that can lead to feelings of embarrassment, guilt, anxiety and social exclusion. The stigma also poses a threat to the identity of the hearing impaired person who, in return, manages this threat by concealing or disclosing their hearing impairment depending on the social implications. As a consequence, help–seeking is delayed by a considerable amount of time. Although proven to be an effective intervention, amplification is often rejected by working adults. Another available effective intervention is participating in audiologic rehabilitation (AR) programmes. These programmes focus on stigma reduction and communication strategies. Most existing programmes target an elderly population that had been fitted with hearing aids. No programme for working adults who do not wear amplification is published in the literature. The new AR programme “See it! Hear it! Say it!” had been designed for adults who do not wear amplification and previously trialled in the USA. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short and mid-term outcomes of a version adapted for the New Zealand context, specifically changes in health related quality of life (HRQoL) and cognitive anxiety. Thirteen participants in two groups participated in the study. The design was a quasi–randomised pre-test/post-test/follow-up test with waitlist design. Outcomes were measured with the International Outcome Inventory – Alternative Interventions (IOI-AI), the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA), the Cognitive Anxiety Scale (CAS) and a non-standardised online questionnaire. Results demonstrated statistically significant differences between pre-group and follow-up assessment outcomes. Effect sizes ranged between 0.606 and 2.114. Participants reported implementing communication strategies in a number of adverse listening environments. These findings provide evidence that the New Zealand specific version of “See it! Hear it! Say it!” is effective in improving HRQoL and reducing cognitive anxiety.

The workplace is an arena that most individuals spend time at. Work-related stress and psychosomatic complaints are problems for the society. Work-related stress has increased in Sweden over the past decades. The aim was to investigate the difference between men and women in work-related stress and psychosomatic complaints among working adults in the Swedish population, and to see if there is a relationship between work-related stress and psychosomatic complaints. The author posted an online survey on Facebook and Discord and 95 adults answered the survey. The result showed that there is a relationship between work-related stress and psychosomatic complaints. Psychosomatic complaints are more common among those who experience more work-related stress. There were no differences between men and women when it comes to work-related stress and psychosomatic complaints. The model Job demand control support model was used in this study. The model is measured with scales such as workload, time pressure and role conflicts. It can be used to see the relationship between job decision latitude and stress indicators. Psychosomatic complaints are more common among those who experience more stress. There are no differences between men and women when it comes to psychosomatic complaints and work-related stress.