Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin (2026)
Authors: Kyesha M. Isadore, Jina Chun, Sang Qin, Muharrem Koc, Arwa Almusaytir, Stephanie Burnham, Anna Kate Schneck
Abstract: People with disabilities (PWD) encounter societal barriers that impact their well-being, particularly due to stigma and systemic discrimination. Whether a disability is congenital or acquired can shape how individuals experience these challenges, influencing their psychological adjustment and coping mechanisms. Stigma, enacted by others and internalized by PWD, can undermine the emotional, social, and physical health of PWD, limiting their ability to flourish. Disability severity adds further nuance to these experiences, influencing the challenges PWD face in accessing resources and social inclusion. This study examined how disability onset moderates the effects of stigma and disability severity on well-being, using the PERMA model. In total, 221 participants with either congenital or acquired disabilities were assessed for overall well-being, negative emotions, health, and loneliness. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that enacted stigma and self-stigma were associated with poorer well-being outcomes, including higher negative emotions, poorer health, and greater loneliness. Disability onset moderated the relationship between self-stigma and well-being, with individuals with acquired disabilities showing stronger negative associations between self-stigma and well-being and health. These findings underscore the importance of addressing both stigma and disability severity in rehabilitation counseling, particularly by tailoring select interventions to the onset of disability. Implications for rehabilitation counseling practitioners are discussed.