EFFECT OF AGE-OF-DISABILITY-ONSET ON SELF-ESTEEM AND ANXIETY IN WHEELCHAIR-BOUND INDIVIDUALS

Anxiety and self-esteem of 105 wheelchair-bound persons, distributed over four age-of-disability-onset groups, were assessed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Self-Esteem Inventory. Significantly higher levels of trait anxiety and lower levels of self-esteem were found in the earliest disability-onset group. The effect of age-of-onset- was nonlinear, however, with the highest age-of-onset group also showing decreased self-esteem and increased anxiety.