Self-esteem and perception of quality of life among israeli women with and without physical disability

This study compared the relationship between self-esteem and perceived quality of life among Jewish Israeli women with and without physical disabilities, and estimated the moderating effects of marital status and age on these relationships. A quasi-experimental design was employed. A total of 134 women aged from 21 to 45 years participated in the study: 70 of them with disabilities and 64 without disabilities (case and control groups, respectively). Significant differences were found between these groups in marital status, education, and employment. The mean self-esteem and perceived quality of life scores of women with physical disabilities were significantly lower than those of the control group. These differences were much more significant among young adult women (21-30 years) than among older women. General self-esteem was the main factor that explained the variance in perceived quality of life in both groups of women: with and without disabilities. The study revealed a significant moderating effect of marital status on the association between self-esteem and perceived quality of life only among women with physical disabilities. In cases in which the general self-esteem level was the same, the perceived quality of life score was higher among married women with physical disabilities than among single women. These results can be used in planning therapeutic interventions, including the development of educational programs for women with disabilities.