Perceiving oneself as 'disabled' or as having a 'disabling condition': a discriminant function analysis

Using discriminant function analysis, information obtained in telephone interviews with a national, random sample of 1000 Americans with self-ascribed disabling conditions was analysed to cast light on differences between individuals who did and did not consider themselves 'disabled'. Maximum separation between the two groups was attained by an equation of six descriptors. In the order of their importance they were (1) the belief that others who knew them well considered them disabled, (2) self-rated severity of disability, (3) identification with others with disabilities, (4) gender, (5) perceived extent of limitations, and (6) needing equipment to walk. Somewhat different equations were generated for sampled men and women. An appreciation of these results in terms of a person's fit with his or her environment is offered.