Predicting depression and anxiety among adults with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rehabil Psychol
; 67(2): 179-188, 2022 May.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1655479
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:
Emerging research has highlighted sources of magnified stress and trauma for people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, as compared to others in the general population. However, little research has examined the mental health impact of the pandemic on people with disabilities in relation to disability-related stigma, social isolation, and demographic characteristics. The present study therefore sought to identify predictors of depression and anxiety symptoms among U.S. adults with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESEARCH METHOD/DESIGN:
Data were collected online between October and December 2020. U.S. adults with disabilities (n = 441) completed self-report measures of depression, anxiety, psychosocial processes, and a range of demographic and disability characteristics.RESULTS:
In our sample, 61.0% and 50.0% of participants met criteria for a probable diagnosis of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, respectively. Participants also experienced significantly higher levels of disability-related stigma and social isolation compared to prepandemic norms. Hierarchical regression analyses identified higher social isolation, presence of chronic pain, younger age, higher disability-related stigma, and higher worries about contracting COVID-19 as significant predictors of both depression and anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSION/IMPLICATIONS This study highlights important demographic and psychosocial predictors of mental health risks for people with disabilities in the context of COVID-19. Findings further underscore the need to attend to those at elevated risk within the disability community as rehabilitation professionals, disability organizations, and policy makers work to support people with disabilities in postpandemic recovery and create a more equitable response to ongoing and future public health crises. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Disabled Persons
/
Depressive Disorder, Major
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Rehabil Psychol
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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