The Self-Esteem of Children with Physical Disabilities—Problems and Dilemmas of Research

Abstract

It is the purpose of this paper to examine attempts to measure the self-concept of children with physical disabilities using psychometric measures. It is argued that the use of measures of the self-concept as they relate to disability have not previously received careful scrutiny in the literature and the implications of their use as well as their disadvantages will be discussed. The study of the self-concept is still very much at the forefront of modem day disability research, and psychologists have attempted to establish clear links between a person's sense of self and his/her adaptation to the social world. Caution is advised when using psychometric instruments for measuring the self-concept of young people with physical disabilities and it should not be assumed that the presence of a physical disability by itself is an overriding factor in determining the psychological development of children with physical disabilities. Studies of the self-concept and disability are producing spurious findings and it is argued that this may be a phenonomenom of the way data are collected. However, this can have far reaching consequences for young people with physical disabilities as the way the self-concept of this particular group is then portrayed may be negative, destructive, and oppressive. This research paradigm serves none of the young people well, as questions such as whether it is possible to measure the self-concept of young people with physical disabilities or indeed whether or not it is a useful exercise to do so have largely been ignored in previous research studies with this particular group. In conclusion, further research implications for use with this particular subject group will be discussed.