Gender is not related to disability acceptance among individuals with disabilities in Korea: A longitudinal observational study.

PURPOSE/

OBJECTIVE

Disability acceptance is an evolving process influenced by personal and contextual predictors, with gender potentially playing a role. This study aimed to examine gender differences in the trajectory of disability acceptance and its predictors among individuals with disabilities in the Republic of Korea (hereafter, Korea).

RESEARCH METHOD/

DESIGN

We analyzed 4-year longitudinal data (2016-2019) from the Panel Survey of Employment for Persons With Disabilities using multigroup latent growth modeling. The sample consisted of 1,007 men and 1,040 women with disabilities.

RESULTS

The research model of disability acceptance demonstrated a good fit, influenced by personal and contextual factors. No significant gender differences were found in intercepts (F = 0.05, p = .83) and slopes of disability acceptance (F = 0.15, p = .70). Multigroup latent growth modeling results indicated that perceived socioeconomic status, disability-related stress, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and satisfaction with friend relationships significantly predicted disability acceptance over most years, with no gender differences in these predictors.

CONCLUSION/IMPLICATIONS: Gender did not predict longitudinal changes in disability acceptance. However, modifiable factors, such as perceived socioeconomic status, disability-related stress, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and satisfaction with friend relationships, were associated with disability acceptance. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).