Social Support and Quality of Life Perceptions Among Persons with Disabilities

Authors

  • Isaac Nyame Department of Educational Foundations Studies, University for Development Studies, Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2800-8974
  • Emmanuel Kofi Gyimah Department of Education and Psychology, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
  • Irene Vanderpuye Department of Education and Psychology, University of Cape Coast, Ghana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54536/ajmri.v4i1.3960

Keywords:

Disability, Quality of Life, Significant Others, Social Support

Abstract

Everyone may need some form of support at a point in time. Support networks assist when there are threatening life events. Whereas everyone needs support, persons who are vulnerable in society such as persons with disabilities (PWDs) may need it the most, hence, this study investigated the influence of social support on their quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to determine the impact of social support on the QoL of PWDs. The study sought to find the sources of social support, the relationship between social support and QoL, and the mechanism by which social support influences the QoL of PWDs. The study was mixed-method with an explanatory sequential design. The population of the study was PWDs in the Tamale Metropolis and Sagnarigu Municipality. A total of 117 PWDs participated in the study using stratified random sampling. A questionnaire and a semi-structured interview guide were the main instruments. The researchers administered the instruments personally. The quantitative data was analysed using simple linear regression, and One-way ANOVA while the qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. It was found that social support was a predictor of the QoL of PWDs especially, support from significant others and families but not from friends. Also, there was a significant difference in QoL among PWDs especially between the hearing impaired and the physically disabled. It was found that the support they received improved their health, well-being, and QoL. It was concluded that social support enhances the QoL of PWDs, hence, the need to strengthen social support systems for them.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abbas, S., Tariq, M., Yaseen, Z., & Shahzad, M. (2024). Adolescent quality of life: Unravelling the impact of social skills and perceived social support. Pakistan Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 12(1), 35–43.

Abebrese, J. (2011). Social protection in Ghana: An overview of existing programmes and their prospects and challenges. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.

Acoba, E. F. (2024). Social support and mental health: The mediating role of perceived stress. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1330720.

Adigun, A. A., Aminu, A. P., Adio, W. S., & Adio, A. A. (2022). Impact of social support on the psychosocial adjustment of children living with a disability (CLWD) as perceived by parents in the Lagos metropolis. IIUM Journal of Educational Studies, 10(2), 106–123.

Afoakwah, C., & Dauda, F. (2016). Employment status and educational attainment among disabled Ghanaians. Working Paper, World Institute for Development Economics Research. http://dx.doi.org/10.35188/UNU-WIDER/2016/099-7

Almog, N. (2011). Academic and social adjustment of university students with visual impairment [Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan].

Alsubaie, M. M., Stain, H. J., Webster, L. A. D., & Wadman, R. (2019). The role of sources of social support on depression and quality of life for university students. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 24(4), 484–496.

Asuman, D., Ackah, C. G., & Agyire-Tettey, F. (2021). Disability and household welfare in Ghana: Costs and correlates. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 42(4), 633–649.

Attipoe, B. (2017). Employment status of persons with disabilities in the Greater Accra Region [Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Ghana].

Beach, S. R., Schulz, R., & Sneed, R. (2018). Associations between social support, social networks, and financial exploitation in older adults. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 37(8), 990–1011.

Bedaso, A., Adams, J., Peng, W., & Sibbritt, D. (2021). The relationship between social support and mental health problems during pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Reproductive Health, 18, 1–23.

Bishop, M., Zhou, K., Fry, H., Richard, C., Park, S., Wiegmann, S., Blackstone, G., & Kim, J. (2024). Disability adjustment counseling: Experiences and perspectives of certified rehabilitation counselors. Rehabilitation Counselors and Educators Journal, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.52017/001c.92320

Boersma, P., & Vahratian, A. (2021). Perceived social and emotional support among adults: United States, July-December 2020. National Center for Health Statistics Data Brief, 420, 1–8. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db420.pdf

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2012). Thematic analysis. American Psychological Association.

Brown, J., Bowling, A., & Flynn, T. (2004). Models of quality of life: A taxonomy, overview, and systematic review of the literature. Kingston University.

Cai, L., He, J., Wu, Y., & Jia, X. (2023). The relationship between big five personality and quality of life of people with disabilities: The mediating effect of social support. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1061455.

Cappe, E., Bolduc, M., Poirier, N., Popa-Roch, M. A., & Boujut, E. (2017). Teaching students with autism spectrum disorder across various educational settings: The factors involved in burnout. Teaching and Teacher Education, 67, 498–508.

Cattaneo, M. D., Galiani, S., Gertler, P. J., Martinez, S., & Titiunik, R. (2009). Housing, health, and happiness. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 1(1), 75–105.

Caulfield, J. (2020). How to do thematic analysis. Scribbr. https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/thematic-analysis/

Charlton, R. A., McQuaid, G. A., & Wallace, G. L. (2023). Social support and links to quality of life among middle-aged and older autistic adults. Autism, 27(1), 92–104.

Chen, S., Sun, X., Zhu, Q., Zhao, Y., Tang, J., & Song, H. (2023). Factors influencing the level of depression and anxiety of community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(5), 4376.

Costanza, R., Fisher, B., Ali, S., Beer, C., Bond, L., Boumans, R., & Snapp, R. (2007). Quality of life: An approach integrating opportunities, human needs, and subjective well-being. Ecological Economics, 61(2-3), 267–276.

Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (4th ed.). Merrill.

Davidson, G., Irvine, R., Corman, M., Kee, F., Kelly, B., Leavey, G., & McNamee, C. (2017). Measuring the quality of life of people with disabilities and their families: Scoping study final report.

Drageset, J. (2021). Social support. In G. Haugan & M. Eriksson (Eds.), Health promotion in health care: Vital theories and research (Chapter 11). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63135-2_11

Edusei, A., Adjei-Domfeh, P., Mprah, W. K., Opoku, M., Badu, E., & Appiah, S. C. (2017). Assessing the impact and uses of the Disability Common Fund among persons with disabilities in Kumasi Metropolis in Ghana. Review of Disability Studies: An International Journal, 12(4), 1–14.

Feeney, B. C., & Collins, N. L. (2015). A new look at social support: A theoretical perspective on thriving through relationships. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 19(2), 113–147.

Forouzan, A. S., Mahmoodi, A., Shushtari, Z. J., Salimi, Y., Sajjadi, H., & Mahmoodi, Z. (2013). Perceived social support among people with physical disability. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, 15(8), 663–665.

Franqueiro, A. R., Yoon, J., Crago, M. A., Curiel, M., & Wilson, J. M. (2023). The interconnection between social support and emotional distress among individuals with chronic pain: A narrative review. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 16, 4389–4399.

Fyrand, L., Moum, T., Finset, A., & Glennås, A. (2002). The impact of disability and disease duration on social support of women with rheumatoid arthritis. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 25(3), 251–268.

Gay, L. R., Mills, G. E., & Airasian, P. (2012). Educational research: Competencies for analysis and applications (10th ed.). Merrill.

Global Education Monitoring Report. (2020). Disabilities and education: The role of inclusive education. UNESCO. https://en.unesco.org/gem-report

Guba, E. G., & Lincoln, Y. S. (1994). Competing paradigms in qualitative research. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (2nd ed., pp. 105–117). Sage.

Guardario, L. B., Bucio, C. J. M., Garocho, L. K. B., & Caballo, J. H. S. (2024). Social support and expectancy as predictors of licensure examination success among professional teachers. American Journal of Education and Technology, 3(4), 24–44.

Hughes, M. E., Waite, L. J., Hawkley, L. C., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2020). A short scale for measuring loneliness in large surveys: Results from two population-based studies. Research on Aging, 42(6), 641-659. https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027520917923

International Labour Organization. (2020). Disability and work. International Labour Organization. https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/disability-and-work/lang--en/index.htm

Kapp, S. K. (2018). Social support, well-being, and quality of life among individuals on the autism spectrum. Pediatrics, 141(Supplement_4), S362–S368. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-4300N

Karimian, M. T., Düllmann, S., Senf, W., & Tagay, S. (2016). Use of assistive technology and need for social support for elderly with physical disabilities. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal, 14(4), 229–238.

Kassah, A. K. (2008). Begging as work: A study of people with mobility difficulties in Accra, Ghana. Disability & Society, 23(2), 163–170.

Kiger, M. E., & Varpio, L. (2020). Thematic analysis of qualitative data: AMEE Guide No. 131. Medical Teacher, 42(8), 846–854.

Korstjens, I., & Moser, A. (2017). Series: Practical guidance to qualitative research. Part 2: Context, research questions and designs. European Journal of General Practice, 23(1), 274–279.

Liu, J., Chang, S., Wang, Z., & Raja, F. Z. (2024). Exploring the association between social support and anxiety during major public emergencies: A meta-analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1344932.

Lund, J., & Spilker, R. S. (2019). Abstracts on quality of life research presented at the Norwegian Public Health Conference on 15-16 October 2019 in Oslo, Norway. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Supplement, 24, 1–24.

Mental Health First Aid USA. (2020). The importance of having a support system. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org

Ocran, J. (2019). Exposing the protected: Ghana’s disability laws and the rights of disabled people. Disability & Society, 34(4), 663–668.

Owusu-Ansah, F. E., & Nkrumah, J. (2017). “Make my burden lighter”: Depression and social support in persons with disability in Ghana. Journal of Depression and Therapy, 1(4), 15–27.

Palmer, M., Williams, J., & McPake, B. (2019). Standard of living and disability in Cambodia. The Journal of Development Studies, 55(11), 2382–2402.

Pasin, T., & Dogruoz Karatekin, B. (2024). Determinants of social participation in people with disability. PLOS ONE, 19(5), e0303911.

Reyhani, T., Mohammadpour, V., Aemmi, S. Z., Mazlom, S. R., & Asghari Nekah, S. M. (2016). Status of perceived social support and quality of life among hearing-impaired adolescents. International Journal of Pediatrics, 4(2), 1381–1386.

Rune, M. R. P., & Rana, M. S. (2024). Parenting by love and understanding: Special children perspective in Bangladesh. American Journal of Physical Education and Health Science, 2(2), 54–59.

Schippers, A., & Van Hove, G. (2017). Editorial for the special issue on quality of life: Exploring new grounds. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 14(1), 4–6.

Siedlecki, K. L., Salthouse, T. A., Oishi, S., & Jeswani, S. (2019). The relationship between social support and subjective well-being across age. Social Indicators Research, 142(2), 647–666. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-018-1902-4

Skevington, S. M., Lotfy, M., & O’Connell, K. (2004). The World Health Organization’s WHOQOL-BREF quality of life assessment: Psychometric properties and results of the international field trial. A report from the WHOQOL group. Quality of Life Research, 13(2), 299–310.

Sultan, B., Malik, N. I., & Atta, M. (2016). Effect of social support on quality of life among orthopedically disabled students and typical students. Journal of Postgraduate Medical Institute (Peshawar-Pakistan), 30(3), 229–234.

Trani, J. F., Moodley, J., Anand, P., Graham, L., & Maw, M. T. T. (2020). Stigma of persons with disabilities in South Africa: Uncovering pathways from discrimination to depression and low self-esteem. Social Science & Medicine, 265, 113449.

Uchino, B. N. (2018). Social support and health: A review of physiological processes potentially underlying links to disease outcomes. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 41(5), 502–515. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-018-9934-3

Uchino, B. N., Bowen, K., Kent de Grey, R., Mikel, J., & Fisher, E. B. (2018). Social support and physical health: Models, mechanisms, and opportunities. In Principles and concepts of behavioral medicine: A global handbook (pp. 341–372).

United Nations. (2019). Realizing the sustainable development goals by, for and with persons with disabilities: Disability and development report. United Nations.

Unsar, S., Erol, O., & Sut, N. (2016). Social support and quality of life among older adults. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 9(1), 249–257.

Vahedi, S. (2010). World Health Organization Quality-of-Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF): Analyses of their item response theory properties based on the graded responses model. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry, 5(4), 140.

Wilson, J. M., Colebaugh, C. A., Flowers, K. M., Meints, S. M., Edwards, R. R., & Schreiber, K. L. (2022). Social support and psychological distress among chronic pain patients: The mediating role of mindfulness. Personality and Individual Differences, 190, 111551.

World Health Organization. (2021). World report on disability. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/disability-and-health

Zhao, X., Zhang, Y., & Xie, J. (2022). Social support and life satisfaction: The mediating role of positive emotions and coping strategies. Social Indicators Research, 159(3), 763–778. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-021-02749-4

Zielińska-Król, K., Gorbaniuk, J., & Mirosław, S. (2015). Family support in the process of building resources in people with disabilities. Psychoprevention, 83, 1–9.

Zimet, G. D., Powell, S. S., Farley, G. K., Werkman, S., & Berkoff, K. A. (1990). Psychometric characteristics of the multidimensional scale of perceived social support. Journal of Personality Assessment, 55(3–4), 610–617.

Published

2025-02-04

How to Cite

Nyame, I., Gyimah, E. K., & Vanderpuye, I. (2025). Social Support and Quality of Life Perceptions Among Persons with Disabilities. American Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Innovation, 4(1), 64–75. https://doi.org/10.54536/ajmri.v4i1.3960