Violence and Discrimination among Persons with Disability: A Study of Two Regions in Ghana.

Abstract

Evidence indicates that persons with disability are more likely to be victims of violence and discrimination relative to people without disability. The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) estimates the number of persons with disability in Ghana to be about 3% of the population. Evidence from the existing literature consistently indicates that discrimination and violence are negatively associated with subjective well-being. However, there are few studies in Ghana that have examined the forms of violence and effects on the psychological well-being of persons with disability. The current study sought to examine violence and discriminations among persons with disability in Ghana. The hypotheses of the study were tested using hierarchical regression, moderation and mediation in SPSS and PROCESS MACRO. Findings of the study indicated that persons with disabilities are at an increased risk of violence and discrimination when compared to those without any form of disability. Form of disability, visibility and place of residence were identified as significant predictors of violence and discrimination among persons with disability. The findings also identified violence and discrimination as significant predictors of psychological health. Factors such as religiosity and gender were found to be moderators of the relationship between violence and discrimination and psychological health. Additionally, the study found social support to be a mediator of the relationship between violence and discrimination and psychological health. The study provides evidence that a person’s environment has a huge impact on the experience and extent of disability. Limitations of the study, as well as implications, are discussed.