Psychological resources in adjustment to disability among mobility impaired people: a systematic literature review

Abstract

Introduction: Mobility impairment involves physical, social and psychological consequences which might negatively affect person’s adjustment to disability. Activating inherent psychological resources may protect them from negative consequences and improve their adjustment to mobility disability. Methods: The purpose of this study was to gain a systematic overview of the role of psychological resources in the adjustment to mobility disability. The literature search was conducted in the databases MEDLINE, PsychArticles, HealthSource, Academic Search Complete, ScienceDirect, Springerlink and dissertation databases. The search of available studies was performed in September 2016 – January 2017. The assessed variables, results and the methodological quality of the studies were extracted, summarised and evaluated. Results: A total of 45 studies which have met the inclusion criteria were identified. Psychological resources were categorised into three groups by how they are related to medical, psychological and social aspects of adjustment to disability. General self-efficacy, perceived social support, coping strategies and self-esteem are the most analysed psychological resources associated to all aspects of adjustment to disability. The results also revealed that associations of psychological resources with physical or mental health are studied way more often than associations with psychosocial adjustment or social aspects of disability. Conclusions and implication: Research on psychological resources in adjustment to mobility disability is broad, but also fragmented. Associations of psychological resources with physical and mental health and well-being were frequently shown, while associations with psychosocial aspects of adjustment to disability are rarely studied. Further development of such studies is indicated.