The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #69151

Yvonne M. Bradshaw, MAP, Andrea D. Hart, PhD, and Mark E. Swanson, MD, MPH. Partners for Inclusive Communities, University of AR for Medical Sciences, 2001 Pershing Circle, Suite 300, N. Little Rock, AR 72114, 501-682-9904, BradshawYvonneM@UAMS.EDU

Objective: Correlations were explored among depression, social contact/support, mobility issues, and accessibility issues in the person's with disabilities population.

Methods: 211 participants were recruited from an ongoing consumer satisfaction study funded by the Centers for Disease Control. Upon completion of the interview a health and wellness survey was left to be filled out and returned. 151 were returned for a 72% response rate.

Results: There seems to be significant correlations found among depression, social contact/support, mobility issues, and accessibility issues in the person's with disabilities population. When an intercorrelation was ran among these variables, the results indicated that if there were problems with mobility there would be problems with social contact/support, a significant level of .01 (.465). If there were problems with accessibility there would be problems with social contact/support, a significant level of .01 (.314) and if there were problems with social contact/support there would be a high level of depression, a significant level of .01 (.492). The results of this study are additional evidence signifying how important it is for a person to feel inclusive and have the opportunity to live and grow in their community. Human beings are first and foremost social beings, therefore, we should recognize that just because a person has a disabling condition, this doesn't mean they have lost their innate human need for social contact.

Learning Objectives:

• 1)Discuss how mobility and accessibility issues can be strongly correlated with a feeling of isolation and a high level of depression.
• 2)From the information given, be able to recognize the need for future program development that will increase these areas of need in the person's with disability population.
• 3)Discuss future research for these areas.

Keywords: Disability Studies, Disability

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.