Five-Year Quality of Life Trajectories for Persons With Disabilities

Abstract

The current study identified the longitudinal quality of life (QOL) trajectories of individuals with disabilities as well as the predictors of those trajectories. It examined a secondary data set, the Panel Survey of Employment for the Disabled (PSED), conducted by the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled (KEAD). Data were gathered over 5 years from individuals with disabilities and analyzed using growth mixture modeling to identify the best QOL trajectory model. Covariates, physical dependence, experience of discrimination, emotional stability, self-esteem, religion, and degenerative type of disability were explored as trajectory predictors. Analysis revealed four latent classes: a high and stable QOL class, a high and varied QOL class, a low and stable QOL class, and a low and varied QOL class. Analysis of predictors indicated degenerative type of disability, physical dependence, discrimination, emotional stability, and self-esteem differentiated the high and stable QOL group from other groups. Significance, limitations, and implications for future practice and research are also discussed.