published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

It was the intent of this study to investigate the relationship of the concept of ego-strength to the success in vocational rehabilitation. Specifically, the study was designed to evaluate in detail certain components of ego-strength which might be significant in distinguishing between the successful and unsuccessful disabled workers referred to Goodwill Industries of Dallas for vocational diagnosis and training.

Adjustment to disability is a foundational concept within rehabilitation psychology and constitutes an important public health problem given the adverse outcomes associated with maladjustment. While the disability literature has highlighted depressive elevations in response to functional impairment, resilience and alternative patterns of psychological adjustment have received substantially less empirical inquiry. This dissertation is comprised of three papers, the first two of which are longitudinal studies utilizing distinct samples of individuals with acquired disabilities: a population-sample of physically impaired older adults, and a convenience sample of individuals with newly acquired amputations. The third paper summarizes current data science and statistical findings regarding disability adjustment for patients and their providers. The two longitudinal studies share a common statistical methodology, latent growth mixture modeling (LGMM), allowing for the identification of distinct subgroups (classes) of individuals who share similar symptom profiles over time. LGMM is well-poised to resolve fundamental questions about whether psychological functioning after disability is best described by a population-level archetypal response (i.e., distress and depression that remits over time), or alternatively, whether the data suggest a variety of definable subgroups with distinct psychological trajectories. Results of empirical papers 1 and 2 provide strong empirical evidence that the process of disability adjustment is heterogeneous, with multiple pathways of symptom development and remission. The third paper demonstrates how findings from current rehabilitation science can be utilized to inform psychoeducational materials for practitioners and their patients with recent limb loss. This chapter addresses gaps in dissemination of knowledge by describing various patterns of psychological outcomes encountered by individuals following amputation surgery, as supported by Study 2 and the broader resilience literature.

The purpose of this study was to examine the possible effects and relationships among life change events and acceptance of disability, social assets, and health status. The subjects of this study were 80 physically disabled college students at The University of Arizona, Pima Community College, and Arizona State University. The subjects were administered the College Schedule of Recent Experience, a Social Assets Scale (SA), the Acceptance of Disability Scale (AD), and a health index. Completion of the health index form was conducted through personal interview. The data were analyzed by means of several statistical procedures. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to examine relationships among the variables. Analyses of variance were conducted to test for significant differences in health outcome between low and high scoring students in life change, acceptance of disability and social assets. Stepwise multiple regressions were carried out to examine the predictive ability of the variables for AD and health outcome. T-tests of means were used to explore differences between students with acquired disabilities and students who were congenitally disabled. In general, the results of the study indicate that life change relates positively to health outcome of physically disabled students. Neither acceptance of disability nor social assets relates strongly with health outcome measures.

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The acquirement of a disability (e.g., spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, amputation, multi trauma) is a risk factor for psychological disturbance (e.g., depression). Research has established that social support and secure attachment are protective factors against psychological disturbance. Attachment patterns have also been associated with differences in perceived social support. Secure attachment and higher perceived social support have been implicated in greater levels of resilience but need to be validated with a population of individuals who have acquired a disability. The Experiences in Close Relationships, Social Provisions Scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Personal Health Questionnaire - 9 Depression Scale, and a Demographic were administered to 102 adult inpatients at a rehabilitation hospital undergoing an individualized rehabilitation program. Two MANOVAs were conducted to examine the direct associations of attachment classifications with the major dependent variables, as well as the various social support subscales. Path analysis tested two mediational models suggested by literature. Model 1 assessed the mediating role of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance on the effect of social support on depression and resilience. Model 2 assessed the mediating role of social support on the effect of attachment anxiety or attachment avoidance on depression and resilience. Partial support was obtained for both models based on fit indices. A small but significant difference in the fit of the models was found, favoring Model 1. Clinical and research implications for this population and the limitations of the study are discussed.

This report portrays the findings of research on the experiences of inclusion/exclusion of people with disabilities in faith communities, from a social work perspective. It was a journey undertaken with a group of people with disabilities in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa during 2009 and 2010. In narrations on the journey, participants expressed their experiences of exclusion, not being considered and their personhood not always being respected in faith communities. However, the journey also revealed suggestions of how their inclusion could be enhanced by changing practices, developing understanding of the needs of people with disabilities, and raising awareness of these. The report concludes with recommendations for ways that people with disabilities and others in faith communities can journey together in faith communities to the benefit of all. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science)

This dissertation investigates how disability has been defined, and focuses on the shift in the conception of disability as an individual and medical problem to disabi1ity as a form of social oppression. Starting from an historical perspective the position of disabled persons in society is traced. The advance of disabled persons, from a condition of enforced social invisibility, to one in which they make themselves seen and heard through social movements fighting for their rights, is outlined as an introduction to a record of practical engagement through pedagogy in a concrete South African context. . After examining the way myths and stereotypes continue to perpetuate discriminatory practices against disabled persons, attention is drawn to the representation of disability through negative and positive images reflected in media as discourse. Thereafter, the material conditions that help, construct the confined, isolated position of disabled persons within society are considered. Attention is drawn to the theoretical positions of Foucault, Fanon and Bulhan to understand how disabled persons have been excluded and/ or exclude themselves from active participation in society. In the light of the foregoing, the dissertation argues for the position of drama as a means of developing a positive self-concept and a positive self-image within disabled persons. The utility of drama in fulfilling this need is demonstrated by way of a qualitative analysis of the experience of drama teaching over a period of several years. The use of drama within special education is urged as a learning medium, with drama as performance and drama as a means of consciousness-raising to advocate for the acceptance and recognition of disabled persons within society. In conclusion, the placement, value and organisation of drama within the Special School Curriculum is considered. The dissertation emphasizes the value of drama as part of culture in which children develop, understand and reflect on their social values, and concentrates on their part in the dialectics of change. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1994.

The purpose of this study was to identify common themes which contribute to the subjective well-being of college students with disabilities. Four students with varying disabilities were recruited for participation in the study based on their well-adjusted behavior patterns and sense of well-being. Participants completed a series of quantitative instruments and three one-hour interviews. The data were analyzed and interpreted, resulting in eleven common themes. The emergent themes included: a perception of normality, a close family network, a perception of strong parental work ethic, valuing family and social support, personal independence, self-acceptance, a multidimensional view of health and wellness, a positive attitude, an emphasis on ability, being a campus leader and possessing a positive self-rating of wellness. The results of this study support the literature on adjustment for persons with disabilities and provide themes which may be useful for further study on larger groups. / Institute for Wellness