Factors Influencing the Relationship Between Participation and Life Satisfaction of Individuals with Disabilities: A Parallel Mediation Analysis on the ICF Framework

Research Objectives: To investigate the effects of mental health and physical health on the relationship between participation and life satisfaction. This study hypothesizes that: (a) physical health mediates the relationship between participation and life satisfaction among people with disabilities, (b) mental health mediates the relationship between participation and life satisfaction among people with disabilities.

Design: Data used in the present study were extracted from the World Health Organization (WHO) International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Public Health Surveillance project. Participants completed a survey based on the ICF framework.

Setting: The setting is general community, the participants were recruited using the MTurk. The participants were individuals with disabilities living in the community.

Participants: A total of 982 individuals were included. Two inclusion criteria were used for participants: (a) at least 18 years of age, and (b) a self-identified disability.

Interventions: N/A

Main Outcome Measures: Life satisfaction: Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) was used to measure life satisfaction.
Wisconsin Community Participation Scale (WCPS) was used to assess participation.

Results: The findings conform to the predictions of a model in which participation is associated with life satisfaction indirectly through its association with mental health, which is uniquely associated with life satisfaction.

Conclusions: The findings of this study confirmed that mental health is a strong mediator between participation the life satisfaction. Better mental health strengthens the positive relationship between participation and life satisfaction. Rehabilitation and health professionals should utilize interventions such as psychological counseling, health promotions, and positive psychology interventions to help PWD improve mental health.

Author(s) Disclosures: There are no conflicts.