This study examines how individual and community contexts relate to happiness among adults with disabilities and tests perceived disaster vulnerability as a policy-relevant mechanism linking context to well-being. Using an anonymous survey of 400 adults with disabilities living in Seoul, South Korea (September–October 2020), the analysis estimates the associations of socioeconomic status, disability severity, and environmental conditions with happiness and assesses indirect effects via perceived disaster vulnerability using bootstrapped mediation models. Happiness differs significantly by income, education, and disability severity. Perceived disaster vulnerability is negatively associated with happiness and partially mediates the relationships between education and disability severity and happiness. In contrast, environmental dimensions—such as formal health and welfare services and physical convenience—show direct associations with happiness but do not operate through perceived vulnerability. The findings suggest that disability-inclusive disaster policy can enhance well-being when it reliably reduces experienced vulnerability through accessible risk communication, practical preparedness supports, and trusted community-based implementation. • Perceived disaster vulnerability is negatively associated with happiness. • Education and disability severity affect happiness partly via vulnerability. • Services and physical convenience show direct, non-mediated associations. • Accessible preparedness support may improve well-being for disabled adults.
Byungyun Choi (Wed,) studied this question.