Population Health Research Brief Series

Abstract

Subjective wellbeing (SWB) - being happy or perceiving one’s life has meaning, is critical to good physical health. People who are happier and who report that their lives have meaning are healthier and live longer. In general, individuals with disabilities have worse SWB compared to those without disabilities. This brief summarizes findings from a study that used data from the National Wellbeing Survey collected in early-2021 to examine differences in happiness and perceived meaning in life between U.S. working-age adults (ages 18-64) with versus without a self-care disability (such as difficulty eating, using the toilet, or dressing without assistance) and the role social support plays in improving happiness and meaning in life between these groups. Results show that adults with a self-care disability are less likely to be happy, less likely to feel their lives have meaning, and less likely to receive social support compared to adults without a self-care disability. The authors recommend policy changes to improve the SWB of adults with a self-care disability, such as removing barriers to moving for work and education and promoting disability awareness in social networks.