Disparities in mental health, social support and coping among individuals with mobility impairment.

BACKGROUND

CDC estimated that 19.4 million (7.8%) US adults are living with mobility impairment, who are unable to walk a quarter mile. Individuals with physical disability reported greater depression and, in some cases, insufficient social support.

OBJECTIVES

This study explores the extent of disparities in psychological health, social support, and coping mechanisms among those with mobility impairment as compared to those without such impairment, and the longitudinal effect of onset of mobility impairment on subsequent psychosocial health and coping.

METHODS

Individuals with mobility impairment were matched to controls from a nationally representative sample, using the propensity score method. The final sample included 345 matched pairs. Regression models with robust standard errors were used to assess disparities in outcomes by mobility status. Autoregressive models were used to assess the longitudinal effect of the onset of mobility limitation on these outcomes.

RESULTS

Those with impaired mobility fared significantly higher on negative affect (p < .05) and pessimism (p < .05), and significantly lower on life satisfaction (p < .05) and positive affect (p = .001). In terms of coping, they showed disparities in health locus of control (self) (p < .05), planning (p < .05), active coping (p < .05), and problem-focused coping (p < .05), as compared to those without mobility limitation. The onset of mobility impairment had significant effects in similar psychological and coping domains.

CONCLUSION

Our work revealed a piece of reality of individuals living with mobility impairment and will inform designing effective interventions to mitigate psychosocial health disparities in this population.