Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Abstract

This study identified factors that affect changes in disability status and life satisfaction, using data from the first and fifth Panel Survey of Employment for the Disabled and 2,045 survey respondents as study subjects. First, in terms of change in disability status, fixed-fixed group accounted for 52.3%, worsen-worsen group for 19.4%, worsen-fixed group for 19.2%, and fixed-worsen group for 9.1%. The subjects whose disability status remained the same had the highest share, but 28.5% of the respondents viewed their status to have worsened compared to 2008, and 9.1% responded to have even further worsening in recent years. Female disabled subjects reported a change in disability status more often than men. Lower age and higher education level corresponded to a higher percentage in the fixed-fixed group. The percentage of subjects in medium or higher level had the following factors: living in Seoul metropolitan area or in six major cities, no religion, a job, and self-reported socio-economic status. Subjects with a disability that is innate or from an accident had a higher share of the fixed-fixed group. The fixed-fixed group and worsen-fixed group had a higher life satisfaction corresponding to a higher disability grade. The most powerful variable affecting life satisfaction was a change in disability status in the fixed-fixed group.
Keywords: Change in Disability, Life Satisfaction, Longitudinal Study, Panel Survey of Employment for the Disabled, Physically Disabled