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Mobility problems and perceptions of disability by self-respondents and proxy respondents
L I Iezzoni1, E P McCarthy, R B Davis
1Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, The Charles A. Dana Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. liezzoni@caregroup.harvard.edu
Medical Care
|October 6, 2000
Summary
Mobility difficulties increase disability perception, but it is not universal. Many individuals with significant mobility issues do not identify as disabled, challenging common perceptions.
Area of Science:
- Disability Studies
- Public Health
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) defines disability based on impairments or perceived impairments.
- Understanding how individuals with mobility limitations perceive disability is crucial for effective policy and support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the self-perceived and externally perceived disability among individuals experiencing lower-extremity mobility difficulties.
- To analyze the relationship between the severity of mobility impairment and disability perception.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a cross-sectional, nationally representative survey: the 1994-1995 National Health Interview Survey-Disability (NHIS-D) supplement.
- Included 142,572 noninstitutionalized US civilian residents aged 18 years or older.
- Developed a 4-level mobility variable and examined its association with self- and external perceptions of disability.
Main Results:
- 3.1% (5.82 million people) reported major mobility difficulties.
- Among those with major mobility problems, 70.8% perceived themselves as disabled, and 64.8% believed others saw them as disabled.
- Mobility level was the strongest predictor of self-perceived disability, followed by general health status.
Conclusions:
- Mobility challenges heighten the likelihood of self-identification as disabled, yet this perception is not uniform.
- Despite the common association of wheelchair use with disability, many individuals with severe mobility impairments do not identify as disabled.
- Findings highlight the complexity of disability perception beyond physical limitations.