Predicting Self-Esteem through Self-Advocacy and Assistive Technology Use among Adults with Physical Disabilities

This study aims to examine the relationship between self-advocacy skills, assistive technology use, and self-esteem among adults with physical disabilities. A cross-sectional design was employed, with data collected from ۲۴۴ adults with physical disabilities. Participants completed validated self-report measures assessing self-esteem, self-advocacy skills, and assistive technology use. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to explore the relationships between the variables. A linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the extent to which self-advocacy skills and assistive technology use predict self-esteem. All analyses were performed using SPSS version ۲۷. The results indicated significant positive correlations between self-esteem and both self-advocacy skills (r = .۶۲, p < .۰۱) and assistive technology use (r = .۵۸, p < .۰۱). Self-advocacy skills and assistive technology use were found to be significant predictors of self-esteem, accounting for ۴۹% of the variance (R² = .۴۹, F(۲, ۲۴۱) = ۱۱۵.۶۳, p < .۰۰۱). The regression analysis revealed that self-advocacy skills (B = ۰.۳۴, β = .۴۲, p < .۰۰۱) and assistive technology use (B = ۰.۲۸, β = .۳۶, p < .۰۰۱) both positively influence self-esteem. The study concludes that self-advocacy skills and assistive technology use are crucial determinants of self-esteem in adults with physical disabilities. These findings highlight the importance of providing support and training in self-advocacy and access to appropriate assistive technology to enhance psychological well-being and autonomy in this population. Future research should explore these relationships longitudinally and across diverse disability groups. This study aims to examine the relationship between self-advocacy skills, assistive technology use, and self-esteem among adults with physical disabilities. A cross-sectional design was employed, with data collected from ۲۴۴ adults with physical disabilities. Participants completed validated self-report measures assessing self-esteem, self-advocacy skills, and assistive technology use. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to explore the relationships between the variables. A linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the extent to which self-advocacy skills and assistive technology use predict self-esteem. All analyses were performed using SPSS version ۲۷. The results indicated significant positive correlations between self-esteem and both self-advocacy skills (r = .۶۲, p < .۰۱) and assistive technology use (r = .۵۸, p < .۰۱). Self-advocacy skills and assistive technology use were found to be significant predictors of self-esteem, accounting for ۴۹% of the variance (R² = .۴۹, F(۲, ۲۴۱) = ۱۱۵.۶۳, p < .۰۰۱). The regression analysis revealed that self-advocacy skills (B = ۰.۳۴, β = .۴۲, p < .۰۰۱) and assistive technology use (B = ۰.۲۸, β = .۳۶, p < .۰۰۱) both positively influence self-esteem. The study concludes that self-advocacy skills and assistive technology use are crucial determinants of self-esteem in adults with physical disabilities. These findings highlight the importance of providing support and training in self-advocacy and access to appropriate assistive technology to enhance psychological well-being and autonomy in this population. Future research should explore these relationships longitudinally and across diverse disability groups.

Keywords:

Self-esteem , self-advocacy skills , assistive technology , physical disabilities , empowerment , psychological well-being