Abstract:
This qualitative research employed a grounded theory approach to explore the nature
of psychological problems in people with disability. This study also explored the
developmental process of these psychological problems. This study included three types of
disabilities namely physical, visual, and hearing & speech disability. In depth interviews were
conducted with nine participants, among them three had physical disability, two had hearing
& speech disability and four had visual disability. There were five male participants and four
female participants. Participants were selected using purposive sampling strategy from
different organizations and personal contact. In-depth interview data were analyzed using the
qualitative data analysis software NVivo-10.
The findings revealed several mental health problems exist among person with
disability. These mental health problems are helplessness, devalued, uselessness, burden,
neglected, sadness, numbness, suicidal thought, avoidance, abusing drug etc. It was developed
through a three sets of perspectives. They were found as the main contributors of the
perception of disability. These were family view, social view and self view. Real life issues
also played an important role in the development of these views and mental health problems.
Researcher also found there was a common conception about disability that portrayed
disability as dependent, incapable, inanimate and discriminated. This conception is vice versa.
The family view, social view, self view and mental health problems make the conception and
the conception of disability also help in their creation. This study helps one to understand the
developmental process of mental health problems. By this, professionals can formulate a
client and facilitate the development of the current treatment practice as to better assist the
people with disabilities. It provides an insight in dealing with disability with higher efficiency.
