Chap 3 Flashcards
Factors related to the person: People respond to disabilities in different ways. Some react negatively and thus their quality of life is negatively affected. Others choose to focus on their abilities as opposed to their disabilities and continue to live a productive life.
The most major factors in determining a disability’s impact on an individual
1. The Nature of the Disability
2. The Individual’s Personality
3. The Meaning of the Disability to the Individual
4. The Individual’s Current Life Circumstances
5. The Individual’s Support System
Example: Some individuals define themselves by their abilities rather than disabilities, leading to a more positive impact on their quality of life.
Factors related to the person Cont’d…: Disability can be acquired (a result of an accident, or acquired disease) or congenital (present at birth).
- The Nature of the Disability
Example: A person who becomes disabled due to a car accident has an acquired disability.
Factors related to the person Cont’d…: The individual personality can be typically positive or negative, dependent or independent, goal-oriented or laissez-faire.
- The Individual’s Personality
Example: A goal-oriented personality may have a more positive outlook on life despite a disability.
Factors related to the person Cont’d…: Does the individual define himself/herself by his/her looks or physical characteristics?
- The Meaning of the Disability to the Individual
Example: An individual who values physical appearance may struggle more with a disability impacting their looks.
Factors related to the person Cont’d…: Independence or dependence on others.
- The Individual’s Current Life Circumstances
Example: A person who is heavily reliant on others may struggle more with a disability.
Factors related to the person Cont’d…: The individual‘s support from family, a significant other, friends, or social groups.
- The Individual’s Support System
Example: Strong support from loved ones can greatly impact an individual’s ability to cope with a disability.
Economic Factors and Disability: People with few economic assets are more likely to acquire pathologies that may be disabling.
Economic status affects whether pathology will proceed to impairment.
Example: Lack of access to medical care due to economic constraints can lead to more severe disabilities.
Political Factors and Disability: The political system, through its role in designing public policy, can and does have a profound impact on the extent to which impairments and other potentially disabling conditions will result in disability.
If the political system is well enforced it will profoundly improve the prospects of people with disabling conditions for achieving a much fuller participation in society.
Example: Effective policies can enhance the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in society.
Factors Psychological of Disability: The impact of psychological factors on how disability and disabling conditions are observed and experienced.
The physical and social environments are fundamentally important to the expression of disability.
Example: Psychological factors can play a significant role in how individuals perceive and adapt to disabilities.
Social Cognitive Processes: It consists of thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and ways of viewing the world, others, and ourselves persons with disability.
Thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and perspectives shape how individuals with disabilities interact with the world.
Example: A positive social cognitive process can lead to better adaptation to disability.
Self-Efficacy Beliefs: Concerned with whether or not a person believes that he or she can accomplish a desired outcome.
Beliefs about one’s abilities affect what a person chooses to do, how much effort is put into a task, and how long an individual will endure when there are difficulties.
Example: Strong self-efficacy beliefs can motivate individuals with disabilities to overcome challenges.
Psychological Control: Perceptions of control will influence whether disabling environmental conditions are seen as stressful and consequently whether it becomes disabling.
The individuals control over themselves depends on the provision of the environments: accessibility or inaccessibility.
Example: Feeling in control of one’s environment can reduce the impact of disabling conditions.
Coping Patterns: Having a disabling condition may create stress and demand additional efforts because of interpersonal or environmental conditions that are not supportive.
Several coping strategies may be used when a person confronts a stressful situation.
Example: Effective coping patterns can help individuals manage the challenges of disabilities.
Personality Disposition: Optimism (in contrast to pessimism) is used for illustrative purposes because it relates to many other personality traits.
Optimism is the general tendency to view the world, others, and oneself favorably.
Example: Optimistic individuals may have a more positive outlook on life despite facing disabilities.
What are some coping strategies that may be used in stressful situations?
Several coping strategies may be used when a person confronts a stressful situation.
These strategies may include seeking information, cognitive restructuring, emotional expression, etc.
