Abstract
Psychological distress among people with physical disabilities (PWPD) might affect their physical morbidity, reduce their quality and duration of life, and increase their need for healthcare services. Therefore, the current study assesses the association between demographic factors (gender, education, and employment status), health and disability-related factors (type of disability, visibility of the disability, disability duration, and self-rated health), and psycho-social factors (perceived discrimination and perceived social support), and psychological distress among people with physical disabilities (PWPD) in Israel. The data were collected through structured questionnaires, administered to a sample of 433 PWPD. The findings suggest negative associations between education, employment status, duration of disability, self-rated health, and perceived social support, and between psychological distress among PWPD. In addition, the findings indicate a positive association between perceived discrimination and psychological distress. No association was found between gender, type of disability, and visibility of the disability and psychological distress. Self-rated health had a greater effect on psychological distress than the other factors highlighted in this study.
