Psychological Wellbeing and Coping Strategies of University Students with Physical Disability

Nana Kwame Ayisi-Boateng; Frances Emily Owusu-Ansah; Giberson  Okrah

doi:10.4314/just.v42i4.1529

Nana Kwame Ayisi-Boateng Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0961-4434
Frances Emily Owusu-Ansah Department of Behavioural Sciences, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7372-8180
Giberson Okrah Kuntenase Government Hospital, Bosomtwe District, Ashanti Region, Ghana https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2982-8562

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/just.v42i4.1529

Keywords: Coping strategies, psychological wellbeing, anxiety, depression, students

Abstract

Objective: University education can be challenging and students with disabilities (SWDs) have the added disadvantage of disability as a potential source of distress. This study examined the psychological well-being of students with physical disabilities at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and how they cope.
Method: This was a cross-sectional study using the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Brief COPE assessment tools to assess psychological distress and coping mechanisms among KNUST students with physical disabilities. Descriptive analyses, including correlations, were performed to examine the associations between well-being indices and coping variables.
Results: Forty-five (45) students participated in the study. The mean age was 23 years (SD±2.96) and 77.8% of them were male students. Approximately 31.1% of the students experiencedm moderate to severe stress, 42.2% experienced moderate to extremely severe depression, and 46.7% experienced moderate to extremely severe anxiety. Emotion focused coping style was the most highly used among the students followed by problem-focused, then avoidant coping. This is suggestive of poor adaptation.
Conclusion: University SWD experience varied levels of depression, anxiety and stress with majority of them adopting an emotion focused coping style. Continuous efforts should be made to identify psychological distress among SWDs and provide the necessary intervention to ameliorate and prevent the worsening of their challenges.

Author Biographies

Nana Kwame Ayisi-Boateng, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi

Dr. Nana Kwame Ayisi-Boateng is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Medicine and a family physician at the University Hospital, KNUST, Kumasi. His expertise is in the management of patients with infectious diseases and other chronic medical conditions.

Frances Emily Owusu-Ansah, Department of Behavioural Sciences, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Frances Emily Owusu-Ansah is an Associate Professor of Psychology in the Department of Behavioural Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, KNUST, Kumasi; and currently Head of the Department. Besides lecturing she is a licensed and seasoned youth and adult psychotherapist, specializing in mood disorders, with many years of experience. Subjective well-being, the interplay of culture and perceptions of control, and disability issues have been the focus of her academic research in the promotion of mental health.

Giberson Okrah, Kuntenase Government Hospital, Bosomtwe District, Ashanti Region, Ghana

Giberson Okrah is a licensed Physician Assistant and a graduate of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), School of Medical Sciences (SMS). He currently works at the Methodist Faith Healing Hospital, Ankaase, in the Ashanti Region of Ghana; having started work there two years ago following graduation from the KNUST. As a young practitioner, he is committed to and interested in the promotion of youth wellbeing; particularly persons with disability (PWDs).