PSYCHO-SOCIAL OUTCOMES OF DISABILITY-RELATED STIGMA AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION AMONG PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Disability is a broad concept and carries several classifications. Generally, it refers to a condition or impairment that limits a person’s physical, sensory, cognitive, or psychological capacities to such an extent that it interferes with their day-to-day activities and participation in society. This study, based on published articles aimed to illuminate the psychosocial outcomes of disability-related stigma and social exclusion among people with physical disabilities. A systematic search was carried out from January 1st 2001 to January 25th 2024 in various databases, namely PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and Random Google Searches. Studies related to psychosocial outcomes of disability-related stigma and social exclusion were located. Seven hundred sixteen articles were found, and after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, fifteen studies remained. Psychosocial outcomes of disability-related stigma and social exclusion were psychological outcomes such as mental health issues, low self-esteem, social outcomes such as discrimination, diminished quality of life, social isolation, economic outcomes, and academic outcomes. Disability-related stigma and social exclusion significantly impact the psychological and social well-being of individuals with physical disabilities, leading to adverse psychological outcomes (reduced self-esteem), social outcomes (reduced social support and increased social isolation), academic and economic outcomes (poor academic performance, low education, and lake of job) that facilitate the diminished quality of life. © Copyright: The Author(s). All articles are licensed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/>).