AUTHOR=Alhumaid Majed M. , Said Mohamed Ahmed 

TITLE=Increased physical activity, higher educational attainment, and the use of mobility aid are associated with self-esteem in people with physical disabilities

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1072709

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1072709

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>High self-esteem can help people with disabilities overcome barriers and improve their mental health and well-being. This study sought to examine self-esteem levels among Saudis with physical disabilities based on socio-economic factors. It also aimed to determine the minimum weekly duration of physical activity performed by participants and examine its effects, along with those of other socio-economic factors, on participants’ self-esteem.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>A participant sample (<italic>N</italic> = 582) consisting of Saudi individuals aged 33.78 ± 9.81 years with physical disabilities (males, <italic>n</italic> = 289; females, <italic>n</italic> = 293) was recruited to participate in this study. Levels of self-esteem were measured using the Arabic version of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Compared to women, men demonstrated significantly higher levels of overall self-esteem, positive feelings, and negative feelings (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01). The respondents’ average levels of overall self-esteem (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001), positive feelings (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01), and negative feelings (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001) also varied by type of physical disability. Wheelchair-using participants had the highest values for self-esteem and positive feelings; cane-using participants or those who did not use mobility aids had the lowest values. Weighted least squares regression showed that weekly physical activity was the factor that most affected self-esteem (<italic>β</italic> = 0.002), followed by education level (<italic>β</italic> = 0.115), then type of mobility device used (<italic>β</italic> = −0.07).</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>Increased weekly physical activity, higher education levels, and the use of mobility aids were the factors likely to improve the self-esteem of Saudis with physical disabilities.</p></sec>