Happy as I am?
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Authors
Emily Perkins
Issue Date
2026
Type
Language
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
In the field of psychology, many aspects contribute to a person’s self-concept, or how they see themselves and what they feel is important to them. Although there is a significant amount of research in this area, there is a lack of representation for individuals with disabilities and how this identity fits into one’s self-concept. In order to begin looking at how having a disability may affect a person’s sense of self, this study will investigate two specific details to see if there is any relationship between them and an individual’s identity. These details are the onset and severity of a disability. The study will then investigate how a person identifies with their disability and the impact that has on life satisfaction and language preferences. Language preferences are between person-first and identity- first language, which means some people prefer being referred to as a disabled person and others prefer being referred to as a person with a disability. This study will determine if there is any correlation between disability identity and life satisfaction, as well as investigate how stronger disability identity might impact language preferences. It is predicted that earlier onset and greater severity will likely make having a disability more central to one’s self-concept. It is also expected that the more central having a disability is in one’s self-concept, the more they will prefer identity-first language, and the more satisfied they will be with their life. Overall, this will further research in the field of identity because it will explore how identity may appear for a specific group of people, allowing for identifying people who may need extra support if there is a correlation between identity and life satisfaction, and it could also potentially provide information regarding best practices for language usage for individuals with disabilities.
In the field of psychology, many aspects contribute to a person’s self-concept, or how they see themselves and what they feel is important to them. Although there is a significant amount of research in this area, there is a lack of representation for individuals with disabilities and how this identity fits into one’s self-concept. In order to begin looking at how having a disability may affect a person’s sense of self, this study will investigate two specific details to see if there is any relationship between them and an individual’s identity. These details are the onset and severity of a disability. The study will then investigate how a person identifies with their disability and the impact that has on life satisfaction and language preferences. Language preferences are between person-first and identity- first language, which means some people prefer being referred to as a disabled person and others prefer being referred to as a person with a disability. This study will determine if there is any correlation between disability identity and life satisfaction, as well as investigate how stronger disability identity might impact language preferences. It is predicted that earlier onset and greater severity will likely make having a disability more central to one’s self-concept. It is also expected that the more central having a disability is in one’s self-concept, the more they will prefer identity-first language, and the more satisfied they will be with their life. Overall, this will further research in the field of identity because it will explore how identity may appear for a specific group of people, allowing for identifying people who may need extra support if there is a correlation between identity and life satisfaction, and it could also potentially provide information regarding best practices for language usage for individuals with disabilities.
In the field of psychology, many aspects contribute to a person’s self-concept, or how they see themselves and what they feel is important to them. Although there is a significant amount of research in this area, there is a lack of representation for individuals with disabilities and how this identity fits into one’s self-concept. In order to begin looking at how having a disability may affect a person’s sense of self, this study will investigate two specific details to see if there is any relationship between them and an individual’s identity. These details are the onset and severity of a disability. The study will then investigate how a person identifies with their disability and the impact that has on life satisfaction and language preferences. Language preferences are between person-first and identity- first language, which means some people prefer being referred to as a disabled person and others prefer being referred to as a person with a disability. This study will determine if there is any correlation between disability identity and life satisfaction, as well as investigate how stronger disability identity might impact language preferences. It is predicted that earlier onset and greater severity will likely make having a disability more central to one’s self-concept. It is also expected that the more central having a disability is in one’s self-concept, the more they will prefer identity-first language, and the more satisfied they will be with their life. Overall, this will further research in the field of identity because it will explore how identity may appear for a specific group of people, allowing for identifying people who may need extra support if there is a correlation between identity and life satisfaction, and it could also potentially provide information regarding best practices for language usage for individuals with disabilities.