Social Support through a Blindness Organization Predicts Life Satisfaction and Positive Disability Identity

By Mercedes Ann Zapata

Preferred Citation

Zapata, M. A. (2022). Social Support through a Blindness Organization Predicts Life Satisfaction and Positive Disability Identity. Journal of Blindness Innovation & Research, 12(1). Retrieved from https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/jbir/jbir22/jbir120104.html. DOI: http://dx.doi/10.5241/12-220

Abstract

Background: Disability identity refers to self-concept as a person with a disability and includes such attitudes as disability affirmation and acceptance. Disability identity is emerging in psychological literature as a predictor of life adjustment among people with disabilities. Objective: This study examined predictors of disability identity and well-being (i.e., psychological distress, life satisfaction) among members of a blindness organization. The author hypothesized that perceived social support would predict more positive disability identity and higher life satisfaction as well as lower psychological distress. Methods: Participants included 142 members of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) who participated in an online survey in 2020. Results: Findings from linear regression indicated that NFB members who reported greater social support through the organization had higher life satisfaction and more positive disability identity, adjusting for impairment-related, personal, and environmental factors. Conclusion: This study highlights the association between feeling supported through the NFB and experiencing higher satisfaction with life and more positive disability identity.

Keywords

Blind, disability identity, social support, life satisfaction, stigma


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DOI: http://dx.doi/10.5241/12-220

The Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research is copyright (c) 2022 to the National Federation of the Blind.