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Impact of the timing, type and severity of disability on the subjective well-being of individuals with disabilities

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  • Uppal, Sharanjit

Abstract

Despite the existence of a large volume of literature on subjective well-being (SWB) of the general population, very few studies have focused on individuals with disabilities. The present study uses data on 24,036 Canadians with disabilities to investigate factors affecting their SWB. It found that SWB, measured here by level of happiness, decreases with severity of disability but is independent of the type of physical disability. Those born with a disability are likely to be happier as compared to those disabled later on in life. Per capita family income has no effect on happiness. However, unemployment decreases happiness. Happiness is found to be U shaped in age, bottoming out around 40 years of age. Some of these results vary when the sample is split according to the timing, type or severity of disability.

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  • Uppal, Sharanjit, 2006. "Impact of the timing, type and severity of disability on the subjective well-being of individuals with disabilities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(2), pages 525-539, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:63:y:2006:i:2:p:525-539
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    1. Blanchflower, David G. & Oswald, Andrew J., 2008. "Is well-being U-shaped over the life cycle?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(8), pages 1733-1749, April.
    2. Binder, Martin & Coad, Alex, 2013. "“I'm afraid I have bad news for you…” Estimating the impact of different health impairments on subjective well-being," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 155-167.
    3. Elizabeth Newbronner & Ruth Wadman, 2021. "Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in UK Thalidomide Survivors: A Brief Survey," Disabilities, MDPI, vol. 1(1), pages 1-7, January.
    4. Asya Bellia & Lorenzo Corsini, 2021. "Disability and happiness: the role of accessibility," Discussion Papers 2021/284, Dipartimento di Economia e Management (DEM), University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
    5. Asya Bellia & Lorenzo Corsini, 2024. "Disability and Life Satisfaction: The Role of Accessibility," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 25(8), pages 1-37, December.
    6. David G. Blanchflower, 2009. "International Evidence on Well-Being," NBER Chapters, in: Measuring the Subjective Well-Being of Nations: National Accounts of Time Use and Well-Being, pages 155-226, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Mukuria, Clara & Brazier, John, 2013. "Valuing the EQ-5D and the SF-6D health states using subjective well-being: A secondary analysis of patient data," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 97-105.
    8. Ana Suárez Álvarez & María R. Vicente, 2023. "Going “beyond the GDP” in the digital economy: exploring the relationship between internet use and well-being in Spain," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    9. Carlo Francescutti & Alessandra Battisti & Giampiero Griffo & Alessandro Solipaca, 2017. "Conceptualization and measurement of disability in studies on subjective well-being: a critical review and evidence from the Italian Health Surveys," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 64(2), pages 179-195, June.
    10. Trani, Jean-Francois & Moodley, Jacqueline & Anand, Paul & Graham, Lauren & Thu Maw, May Thu, 2020. "Stigma of persons with disabilities in South Africa: Uncovering pathways from discrimination to depression and low self-esteem," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    11. Teresa García-Muñoz & Shoshana Neuman & Tzahi Neuman, 2014. "Subjective Health Status of the Older Population: Is It Related to Country-Specific Economic Development Measures?," Working Papers 2014-02, Bar-Ilan University, Department of Economics.
    12. Nor Fairani Ahmad & Mariani Mansor & Laily Paim, 2016. "Income Poverty and Well-Being among Vulnerable Households: A Study in Malaysia," Asian Social Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 12(2), pages 195-195, February.
    13. Andrew E. Clark, 2006. "Born to be mild? Cohort effects don't explain why well-being is U-shaped in age," Working Papers halshs-00590307, HAL.
    14. Andrew E. Clark & Andrew J. Oswald, 2006. "The curved relationship between subjective well-being and age," Working Papers halshs-00590404, HAL.
    15. Elizabeth Newbronner & Caroline Glendinning & Karl Atkin & Ruth Wadman, 2019. "The health and quality of life of Thalidomide survivors as they age – Evidence from a UK survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, January.
    16. Mariusz Duplaga & Katarzyna Szulc, 2019. "The Association of Internet Use with Wellbeing, Mental Health and Health Behaviours of Persons with Disabilities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-16, September.
    17. Marchesano, Katia & Musella, Marco, 2020. "Does volunteer work affect life satisfaction of participants with chronic functional limitations? An empirical investigation," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    18. David G. Blanchflower & Carol L. Graham, 2022. "The Mid-Life Dip in Well-Being: a Critique," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 161(1), pages 287-344, May.
    19. Palm, Matthew & Allen, Jeff & Farber, Steven, 2023. "Shifted out: the well-being and justice implications of evening and night commuting," SocArXiv uy96s, Center for Open Science.

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