Barrier Perception and Its Influence on Self-Esteem

This project was a correlational study that explored the relationships between client-perceived physical and interpersonal barriers to activities of daily living and the self-esteem of wheelchair-bound individuals. Following data analysis, the conclusions of the study were: a) There were no significant correlations between client-perceived barriers and self-esteem in this sample, b) Persons who had been using wheelchairs for more than 6 years had significantly higher self-esteem than those who had been using a wheelchair for less than 6 years, c) Individuals who used a wheelchair due to a spinal cord injury had significantly higher self-esteem than persons who used wheelchairs due to the effects of multiple sclerosis, and d) Women perceived significantly more barriers than men. Implications for nursing include: a) Identifying those barriers that inhibit successful community reintegration and working for their elimination, b) Increasing efforts to assist clients in the maintenance or restoration of self-esteem, and c) Considering the effects of time, progressive vs. stabilized conditions, and self-concept of men as compared to women a key variable in the recovery/adaptation process.