THE ATTITUDES TOWARD DISABILITY AND WORK PERFORMANCE: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF JOB SELF-EFFICACY

Abstract

This study examines the impact of attitudes toward disability on job self-efficacy & work performance within key manufacturing sectors of Pakistan, including textile, surgical, sports, leather garments, sugar & glass industries. The data were gathered from 695 employees across the industrial hubs of Sialkot, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Gujrat. The findings indicate that positive attitudes toward the disability enhance both job self-efficacy and work performance, while job self-efficacy itself serves as the critical driver of improved performance. Moreover, job self-efficacy mediates the relationship between attitudes towards disability and work performance, highlighting its crucial role in translating inclusive attitudes into tangible workplace outcomes. Contextual factors like disability gains, experiences of the discrimination, inclusive prospects, and social challenges were also found to shape attitudes towards disability in the particular situations and context. In this connection, the present study underscores the importance of fostering inclusive practices and building self-efficacy to enhance work outcomes, offering practical implications for managers and policymakers in strengthening disability-inclusive workplaces particularly in Pakistan’s industrial sector.