Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology (PhD)

Department

Clinical Psychology

First Advisor/Committee Member

Thane Erickson, PhD.

Second Advisor/Committee Member

Jacob Bentley, PhD.

Third Advisor/Committee Member

Jamie Tingey, PhD.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly and negatively impacted those around the world, particularly marginalized groups such as people with disabilities (PWDs). What remains unclear from existing published research is the exact relationship between perceived stress of the pandemic, coping, and overall well-being in PWDs. Prior research and theoretical models of coping suggest that active coping processes are associated with more positive outcomes versus avoidant coping strategies, which have shown less favorable outcomes on well-being. Due to the varying ways in which the pandemic affected PWDs, coping might serve as a moderator, amplifying the negative relationship between perceived stress and well-being. Building upon previous theories of perceived stress, coping, and well-being, this study investigates the moderating role of coping processes on the relationship between perceived stress of the COVID-19 pandemic and well-being among a sample of disabled individuals. Adults (N = 132) who self-identified as having a disability or chronic health condition impacting one or more major life activities were recruited online to complete a survey. Measures of well-being, perceived stress, coping, and depression symptoms were administered via an online survey. Participants were predominantly Caucasian (61.4%), female (48.6%), and ranged in age from 18 to 82 years old. The overall regression model including depression symptoms (covariate), perceived stress, and behavioral disengagement as a main effect and moderator of stress predicted significant variance in well-being, F(4,123) = 18.09, p < .001, R2= .37. As hypothesized, behavioral disengagement coping predicted lower well-being (b= -0.7256, SE = 0.195, p < .001), beyond the effect of depression (b1= -0.572, SE = 0.142, p < .001). Counter to expectations, perceived stress did not predict well-being, but trended toward predicting higher levels (b = 0.303, SE = 0.188, p = .083). Behavioral disengagement did not moderate effects of perceived stress on well-being. Results for depression and behavioral disengagement are broadly consistent with prior research, but the unexpected effect of perceived stress was not consistent with prior research and may suggest that other factors shaped experiences of stress in this population in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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