Determined to be resilient: Analysis of the well-being of people with disabilities (People of determination) in Abu Dhabi during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

This study examines whether people with disabilities report different COVID-19-related challenges and adverse impacts on their psychological well-being compared to people without disabilities. During the pandemic, most people, including those with disabilities, faced strict rules of movement restriction and isolation that might have resulted in certain psychological feelings, challenges, and social reactions. Data were gathered through the 3rd cycle of the Abu Dhabi Quality of Life Survey conducted in 2021, which included 1,954 respondents who categorized themselves as having some disabilities. Through descriptive analysis, t-tests, and analysis of variance, this study indicated a significantly higher level of fear, loneliness, and stress among people with disabilities during the pandemic. There were also significant findings related to the impact of new technologies on the quality of life of people with disabilities. For all psychological wellbeing concerns, challenges, and reactions, significant differences were observed regarding gender, marital status, education attainment, nationality, and age of people with disabilities, but not to a large extent. The findings were discussed in light of international and regional literature and provided a resource for social policymakers to identify gaps in disability services. Finally, policy recommendations and future research directions were summarized and discussed, while the limitations of this study were acknowledged.