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

Abstract #66906

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

Relations were explored between health problems that limit daily life activities, number of secondary conditions, independence, and depression in person's with disabilities.

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: A mediating effect is found when a statistically significant path from the independent variable to the dependent variable is no longer statistically significant after controlling for the mediating variable. Regression models examined the number of secondary conditions as a mediator between the number of limiting health conditions and both 1) depression and 2) independence. Bivariate correlations between limiting health conditions, the number of secondary conditions, depression, and independence were all statistically significant. When number of secondary conditions was entered in a regression model predicting depression after controlling for limiting health conditions, the standardized Beta score for limiting health conditions predicting depression dropped from Beta = .312 (p < .000) to Beta = .129 (p = .100). When number of secondary conditions was entered in a regression model predicting level of independence after controlling for limiting health conditions, the standardized Beta score for limiting health conditions predicting level of independence dropped from Beta = .2.07 (p = .011) to Beta = .103 (p = .230) These results indicate that number of secondary conditions mediates the relations between limiting health conditions and both depression and independence.

Learning Objectives:

• 1)Identify what are secondary conditions.
• 2)Recognize the effect secondary condition may have on a person with disability, their level of depression and feeling of independence.
• 3)Discuss how the findings can allow future development of intervention programs to lower or prevent these mediating effects.

Keywords: Disability, Disability Studies

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.