Self-esteem and women with disabilities

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• The sense of self, encompassing self-esteem and self-cognition, is crucial for well-being.
• Physical disabilities can influence an individual's self-perception and social integration.
• Understanding these dynamics is vital for effective support and interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the sense of self (self-esteem, self-cognition, social isolation) in women with physical disabilities.
• To examine how precursor variables (age, education, disability severity, childhood experiences) and sense of self influence life outcomes (intimacy, employment, health behaviors).
• To determine the mediating roles of self-esteem, self-cognition, and social isolation in these relationships.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study utilizing correlation and path analysis.
• Data collected from 881 community-dwelling women in the USA (475 with physical disabilities, 406 without).
• Assessed precursor variables, sense of self mediators, and outcome variables through surveys.

Main Results:

• Women with disabilities reported lower self-cognition, self-esteem, and higher social isolation compared to controls.
• Self-esteem and social isolation were linked to health promoting behaviors; self-esteem also related to employment.
• Sense of self mediators significantly influenced intimacy.
• Childhood experiences like overprotection and familial affection, alongside age and education, affected self-perception and social isolation.

Conclusions:

• The sense of self is significantly impacted by physical disability, affecting social integration and personal well-being.
• Interventions should address self-esteem and social isolation to improve health behaviors and life satisfaction.
• Early life experiences and socioeconomic factors play a role in shaping the self-perception of women with disabilities.