Disability-Related Stress and Psychological Well-Being: The Mediating Role of Emotional Regulation

Abstract

Disability-related stress may influence the psychological well-being of adults with disabilities, particularly when individuals experience difficulties regulating their emotions. This study examined the relationship between disability-related stress and psychological well-being and investigated the mediating role of emotional regulation difficulties. A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was proposed, involving 327 adults aged 18 years and above with disabilities residing in Pakistan. Data were to be collected through a structured, self-administered questionnaire distributed through rehabilitation centres, disability-support organizations, and community networks in the selected study areas. The questionnaire assessed disability-related stress, emotional regulation difficulties, and psychological well-being using relevant standardized measures. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and mediation analysis using PROCESS Macro Model 4 with 5,000 bootstrap samples and 95% confidence intervals were specified for the analysis. The reported results indicated a negative association between disability-related stress and psychological well-being ((r=-.42)), a positive association between disability-related stress and emotional regulation difficulties ((r=.46)), and a negative association between emotional regulation difficulties and psychological well-being ((r=-.49)). The mediation analysis also reported a negative indirect effect of disability-related stress on psychological well-being through emotional regulation difficulties ((B=-.16), 95% CI ([-.25,-.09])). These findings, if confirmed using the actual dataset, would suggest that emotional regulation difficulties may help explain the relationship between disability-related stress and psychological well-being. The study highlights the importance of accessible psychological support, effective stress-management strategies, and emotional regulation interventions for adults with disabilities. It may also inform rehabilitation professionals, mental health practitioners, and disability-support organizations in developing inclusive services that address the emotional and psychological needs of this population. Furthermore, the findings emphasize the importance of disability-sensitive mental health policies and accessible counseling services. Future longitudinal and intervention-based research is recommended to clarify these relationships over time and evaluate strategies that may strengthen emotional coping and psychological well-being among adults with disabilities.