Associations of Disability Type and Visibility with Social Exclusion, Life Satisfaction, and Forgiveness among People with Disabilities: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Objective: The type and visibility of disability significantly influence individuals' daily lives and their social integration. This study aimed to examine the associations of disability type and its visibility with social exclusion, life satisfaction, and forgiveness. Method: This cross-sectional comparative study was performed with a total of 344 disabled individuals who the state hospital inpatient and outpatient clinics between January and February 2023. Data were gathered through the use of a Sociodemographic Information Form, the Social Exclusion Scale, the Life Satisfaction Scale, and the Forgiveness Scale. Analyses included chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, and regression tests. Results: The majority of participants (59.9%) had visible disabilities, and 68.6% were classified as having a first-degree disability. The results indicated significant differences in the mean scores of individuals with invisible psychiatric disabilities and individuals with visible physical disabilities on the Social Exclusion Scale's "Exclusion from Access to Basic Services" sub-dimension (p<.05). Also, a significant difference was found between the groups in terms of total Forgiveness Scale scores (p<.05). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that disability type, visibility, and sociodemographic characteristics significantly explained the variance in social exclusion (R²=0.133; p<0.001), life satisfaction (R²=0.138; p<.001), and forgiveness level (R²=0.077; p<.05). Conclusions: This study reveals that the experience of social exclusion, life satisfaction and forgiveness among individuals with disabilities is associated with the type and visibility of their disability. The findings emphasise the importance of a holistic nursing approach that considers the physical and psychosocial aspects of disability.

Keywords

• Disability
• forgiveness
• life satisfaction
• social exclusion

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