Protective Role of Social Networks for the Well-Being of Persons with Disabilities: Results from a State-Wide Cross-Sectional Survey in Kerala, India

Saju Madavanakadu Devassy (), Lorane Scaria, Shilpa V. Yohannan and Sunirose Ishnassery Pathrose
Additional contact information
Saju Madavanakadu Devassy: Department of Social Work, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Rajagiri P.O., Kalamassery, Kochi 683 104, India
Lorane Scaria: Department of Social Work, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Rajagiri P.O., Kalamassery, Kochi 683 104, India
Shilpa V. Yohannan: Department of Social Work, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Rajagiri P.O., Kalamassery, Kochi 683 104, India
Sunirose Ishnassery Pathrose: Department of Social Work, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Rajagiri P.O., Kalamassery, Kochi 683 104, India

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-11

Abstract: The current study presents the findings from a cross-sectional survey on social factors associated with the well-being of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Kerala, India. We conducted a community-based survey across three geographical zones, North, Central, and South of Kerala state, between April and September 2021. We randomly selected two districts from each zone using a stratified sample method, followed by one local self-government from each of these six districts. Community health professionals identified individuals with disabilities, and researchers collected information on their social networks, service accessibility, well-being, and mental health. Overall, 244 (54.2%) participants had a physical disability, while 107 (23.78%) had an intellectual disability. The mean well-being score was 12.9 (S.D = 4.9, range = 5–20). Overall, 216 (48%) had poor social networks, 247 (55%) had issues regarding service accessibility, and 147 (33%) had depressive symptoms. Among the PWDs with issues with service access, 55% had limited social networks. A regression analysis revealed that social networks (b = 2.30, p = 0.000) and service accessibility (b = −2.09, p = 0.000) were associated with well-being. Social networks are more important than financial assistance because they facilitate better access to psycho-socioeconomic resources, a prerequisite for well-being.

Keywords: people with disabilities; service accessibility; social networks; mental health; wellbeing; Kerala (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/4213/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/4213/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4213-:d:1081627

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().