Perceived stress of individuals with disabilities in the United States during COVID-19.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to better understand how COVID-19 has impacted the stress, resiliency, and quality of life of people with disabilities near the height of the first surge of the COVID-19 pandemic in the summer of 2020. RESEARCH METHOD/DESIGN: An online survey of 990 individuals who self-identified as having at least one disability in the United States was conducted. RESULTS: Quality of life, coping/resilience skills, number of identified disabilities, and age were all significantly related to perceived stress. While access to technology was not significantly related to perceived stress, increased use of technology since the pandemic was associated with increased reported stress, though the practical significance was small. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS There is a need for increased attention to dissemination of information to people with disabilities. Knowledge of medical rights was significantly associated with following social distancing practices and suggests that health knowledge does change behavior. Ensuring that people with disabilities are aware of coping skills and how to promote resilience is a needed area of focus for the field. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).