A Model Of Mental Health Adjustment Among African Americans With Disabilities

Abstract

This study tested the usefulness of a model developed for conceptualizing adjustment to disability with a sample of African Americans. According to the model, both risk and resistance factors contribute to adjustment to disability. The risk factors examined in this study were perceptions of severity of disability, functional limitations, and stress. The resistance factors examined were self-esteem, social support, and active coping. Depression and anxiety were used as indicators of mental health adjustment. Data were collected on 113 African Americans with disabilities. Multivariate regression analyses indicated that risk and resistance factors were significant predictors of mental health adjustment to disability. Risk factors were associated with poor adjustment, whereas resistance factors were associated with favorable adjustment. Further, resistance factors contributed to the prediction of depression and anxiety after the influence of demographics and risk factors was accounted for. Functional limitations, stress, social support, and active coping emerged as major variables in adjustment. The findings support an integrative approach that considers the influence of both risk and resistance factors when investigating adjustment to disability.