In the rehabilitation literature, acceptance of disability has been identified as one of the best indicators of positive adjustment following... Show moreIn the rehabilitation literature, acceptance of disability has been identified as one of the best indicators of positive adjustment following an acquired disability (Elliott, Uswatte, Lewis, & Palmatier, 2000) and has significant implications in vocational rehabilitation and overall community integration (Green, Pratt, & Grigsby, 1984; Melamed, Groswasser, & Stern, 1992; Snead, & Davis, 2002). However, existing literature on acceptance of disability is primarily based on Western samples. The current study focused on people with spinal cord injuries and was the first attempt to apply the construct of acceptance of disability to a mainland Chinese sample. It also examined if demographic variables (i.e., age, gender, education level), disability related variables (i.e., functional limitations, pain), and psychosocial variables (i.e., depression, selfesteem, perceived social support, self-efficacy) are significantly related to AD. Hierarchical Regression revealed that higher self-esteem and less depressive symptoms were significantly associated with better acceptance of disability. The current study also indicated an alarmingly high prevalence of depression among Chinese individuals with spinal cord injury and suggested a mediating effect of depression and self-esteem on social support. Ph.D. in Psychology, July 2012 Show less
