“We need a world we can operate in”: Exploring the relationship between societal stigma and depression among wheelchair users

Abstract

BackgroundStigma looms over the disability community. Objective or HypothesisThe aim of this paper is to gain a deeper understanding of how societal stigma impacts depression among wheelchair users. MethodsMixed research methods were used on a sample of sixty full-time wheelchair users (M age = 43.78, SD = 15.50) whose disability was either acquired (n = 32) or congenital (n = 28). Data was collected via an anonymous Qualtrics survey. Qualitative and quantitative content analyses were performed. ResultsThree major themes were identified from the qualitative analysis, including pity, discomfort, and invisibility which demonstrated that our participants felt frequently stigmatized in public. Several participants noted how assumptions were made about their competence, intellect, ability, and the entire disability experience based on the physical representation of their wheelchair. The quantitative results demonstrated a positive correlation between The Major Depression Index and the Able Privilege Scale-Revised, a scale constructed to examine personal power and privilege in relation to society depending on disability type. ConclusionsWheelchair users feel stigmatized by members of society, which is associated with increased levels of depression and perceived pity, discomfort, and invisibility.