Exploring Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Life Satisfaction among Disabled Populations in Karnataka: Implications for Social Work
Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan
*
Department of Post Graduate Studies and Research in Social Work, Mangalore University, Mangalagangothri, Konaje, 574199, India.
Mohan S. Singhe
Department of Post Graduate Studies and Research in Social Work, Mangalore University, Mangalagangothri, Konaje, 574199, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: To examine how people with disabilities (PWDs) in Karnataka experience depression, stress, anxiety, and quality of life (QOL).
Study Design: A cross-sectional and descriptive research design.
Place and Duration of Study: Karnataka, India, in May through June 2025.
Methodology: This study used a convenience sampling method with 100 participants. The authors employed the Social Package of Statistical Software (SPSS), version 24, for coding and performing quantitative analysis. SPSS was used to evaluate the reliability of the scales, present descriptive statistics, including frequencies, means, standard deviations (SD), and crosstabs, perform Pearson correlation tests, and run linear regression models.
Results: The study revealed that 61% of participants had no psychological distress, such as depression, stress, and anxiety. However, 39% of the remaining participants still experienced psychological disturbance; these symptoms were mostly not severe or very severe. While most participants reported good to very good life satisfaction, a significant number were dissatisfied with their lives, particularly at a moderate level, representing 41%, 25%, 30%, and 23% in environmental, social relations, psychological, and physical health areas, respectively. The current study also identified the correlations between psychological distress, QOL, and other demographic variables among PWDs.
Implications: The study offered several significant suggestions regarding social work interventions in enhancing the mental health and life satisfaction among disabled populations, such as psychosocial interventions and community-based programs, and inclusive education advocacy.
Conclusion: The present study explored the levels of depression, stress, anxiety, and life satisfaction among people with disabilities (PWDs) in Karnataka, India. While many PWDs experienced good mental health and life satisfaction, others still suffered from poor mental health conditions and quality of life. This highlighted the need to initiate effective and efficient programs to fulfill the rights of PWDs in this region.
Keywords: People with disabilities (PWDs), DASS-21, WHOQOL, standard deviations