Factors determining participation in young adults with a physical disability: a pilot study

To evaluate in a pilot study the usefulness of measures of health and psychosocial status for use with young people with physical and complex disability. Also to test empirically a conceptual model of the factors determining key outcomes in young disabled adults, in particular, participation (handicap).

A cross-sectional study involving face-to-face interviews with young adults aged 16-28 years (n = 45) with physical and complex disabilities. A group of nondisabled college students completed the same set of questions to provide normative scores for some psychosocial measures.

Young people with physical disabilities were recruited from the area of North and North East Lincolnshire, and nondisabled young people from the Leeds area.

Standardized measures of impairment, disability and handicap, together with various psychosocial scales were incorporated into a structured face-to-face interview. Standardized measures included the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), the Barthel Index, the London Handicap Scale, Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale and the Proactive Scale.

Regression analysis showed the most important predictors of participation were energy and pain (NHP), disability (Barthel) and self-efficacy. Most of the health status measures were able to discriminate between disabled and nondisabled young people, but some measures lacked face validity for the 'nonwalking' disabled group.

Both health status and psychosocial factors were found to impact on the participation of young people. Impairment and disability however, did not impact adversely on self-ratings of health or quality of life and it is clear from these results that having a disability may limit participation, but is not necessarily synonymous with a poorer quality of life.