Original scientific paper

The Stress Experience and Mental Health among Persons with Physical Disabilities: A Minority Stress Perspective

Claire Sangster Jokić orcid.org/0000-0003-0306-9815 ; University of Applied Health Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia
Andreja Bartolac orcid.org/0000-0002-9472-5154 ; University of Applied Health Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Persons with physical disabilities often experience various forms of discrimination and are at increased risk for greater levels of stress and negative mental health outcomes. To date, however, the stress experience of persons with disabilities has not been studied extensively. Using minority stress as a conceptual framework, the aim of this study was to explore the experience of stress among people with physical disabilities and the consequences of stress for mental health, as well
as to examine the role of discrimination in shaping this experience. In this study, individual interviews were conducted with 6 adults with physical disabilities. Transcribed interviews were analysed inductively using a constant comparative approach. Participants reported how various stressors specific to the lived experience of having a physical disability negatively influenced their emotional well-being. They also described numerous experiences in which the consequences
of discrimination, including physical inaccessibility, social isolation, and limited employment opportunities, had a direct impact on their experience of stress. Preliminary analysis suggests that minority stress offers a useful framework from which to further examine and better understand the unique stressors experienced by persons with physical disabilities and the role played by discrimination on their experience of stress.

Keywords

Physical disability; Minority stress; Discrimination; Mental health

Hrčak ID:

200578

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/200578

Publication date:

30.3.2018.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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