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Adult Attachment Styles and Life Satisfaction in Individuals with Physical Disabilities

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Abstract

Examined the impact of adult attachment style on overall psychosocial adjustment among people with physical disabilities. 100 individuals with chronic, non-progressive physical disabilities living in the community. Adult attachment style, self-esteem, social integration and life satisfaction. Participants with physical disabilities did not differ from the general population in terms of secure versus insecure attachment styles represented. Secure attachment style predicted higher selfesteem. Both attachment security and physical independence were independently related to life satisfaction. This study highlights the importance of examining interpersonal relationships in life satisfaction in people with physical disabilities

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Outcomes Research, Kessler Foundation Research Center, 1199 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ, 07052, USA

    Karen Hwang

  2. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA

    Karen Hwang

  3. Occupational Therapy and Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Mark V. Johnston

  4. Faculty of Education, University of Otago, New Zealand, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand

    Jeffrey K. Smith

Authors
  1. Karen Hwang
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  2. Mark V. Johnston
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  3. Jeffrey K. Smith
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karen Hwang.

Additional information

This project was supported in part by a pre-doctoral fellowship from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, sponsored by grant H 133P970011 from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and the Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corporation.

Grateful appreciation to Ali Bashey, Akua Boakye, Bob Colicchio, Bobbie Humphreys, Charles Newman, Marla Shawaryn, Bill Smith, and Paula Walsh for their help with participant recruitment and data collection. Special thanks to Elizabeth Hwang, Luda Berezina, Sabrenna Burruss, and Victoria Mance for their help and support.

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Hwang, K., Johnston, M.V. & Smith, J.K. Adult Attachment Styles and Life Satisfaction in Individuals with Physical Disabilities. Applied Research Quality Life 4, 295–310 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-009-9082-x

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