Urgent need of integrated health and social care to alleviate high psychological distress in people with disabilities: A cross-sectional national representative survey in Australia

Abstract

Objective: To investigate factors in association with high psychological distress in people with disabilities. Methods: We used the 2015 national survey on disability in Australia to derive the representative study population of 7936 people with disabilities aged 18+ years. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) was used to define high psychological distress (scores ≥22). The explanatory variables included socioeconomic status, physical health, social relationships and environment factors. Adjusted Odds Ratios (ORs) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) were evaluated using weighted Logistic regression models with lasso techniques. Results: Approximately 21 in 100 study participants experienced high psychological dis-tress. The risk of high psychological distress decreased with age and high educational attainment. Having non-English speaking background (2.31; 1.87–2.85) and need for assis-tance in cognitive or emotional tasks (3.25; 2.65–3.98) were independently significantly associated with high psychological distress in people with disabilities. Delay seeing a GP was associated with a 2-fold risk increase. Conclusion: Integrated healthcare and social support are warranted with appropriate target-ing to improve mental health outcomes in people with disabilities.