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Disability Acceptance and Affirmation Among U.S. Adults With Learning Disabilities and ADHD
Mercedes A Zapata1, Frank C Worrell1
1University of California, Berkeley, USA.
Journal of Learning Disabilities
|July 25, 2023
Summary
Disability identity, including acceptance and affirmation, impacts mental well-being and life satisfaction in adults with learning disabilities (LD) and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These attitudes are crucial for understanding psychosocial functioning in these populations.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Disability Studies
Background:
- Personal disability identity influences psychosocial functioning in adults with physical disabilities.
- Limited research exists on disability identity in adults with learning disabilities (LD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine personal disability identity, specifically disability acceptance and affirmation, in adults with LD and/or ADHD.
- To assess the association between disability identity scores and psychosocial outcomes like anxiety, depression, life satisfaction, and self-efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Factor analyses were used to validate disability acceptance and affirmation scales.
- The study included large samples of adults with LD-only, ADHD-only, and comorbid LD and ADHD.
- Regression analyses explored the predictive relationships between disability identity and psychosocial variables.
Main Results:
- Validated 4-item disability acceptance and 3-item disability affirmation scales for LD and ADHD populations.
- Disability affirmation significantly predicted life satisfaction in adults with LD or ADHD.
- Disability acceptance was a significant predictor of general self-efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Disability identity attitudes are clinically and academically relevant for adults with LD and ADHD.
- Adults with comorbid LD and ADHD may require specific attention within disability identity research.
- Understanding disability identity can inform interventions to improve psychosocial functioning.
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