Table 7.Number and Percent of Children Who Ever Had a Delay in Growth or
Development, a Learning Disability, or an Emotional Problem That Lasted 3
Months or More or Required Psychological Help, by Age and Selected
Characteristics: United States, 1988
** Highlights
Over 2.5 million children, or 4 percent of those 17 years of age and younger,
have had a delay in their growth or development. Of all children 3 to 17
years of age, 6.5 percent, or 3.4 million, have had a learning disability,
and 13.4 percent, or 7 million, have had an emotional or behavioral problem
lasting three months or more or which required psychological treatment.
When data are combined, 19.5 percent or 10.2 million children ages 3 to 17
have had one or more of these three conditions, and when the children ages
two and under with growth or development delays are included, the figure is
10.7 million (data not shown). These figures equal or exceed those for the
most prevalent chronic physical conditions among children.
Little or no significant increase in rates occurred across age groups for
children with delays in growth or development showing that most such delays
occur in early childhood (percentages for older children include conditions
which existed at any period in their lifetime). Learning disabilities
increased at school age, showing that such conditions are often not
recognized before starting school. Emotional and behavioral problems
increase steadily with age, except for a decline in the rate of increase
after early elementary school.
Males had a substantially higher prevalence of learning disabilities (8.6
percent) and emotional or behavioral problems (15.4 percent) than females
(4.4 and 11.3 percent, respectively). Gender differences in growth or
development delays were not significant.
Learning disabilities varied directly with family income and parental
education. Emotional or behavioral problems increased as family income fell,
but differences according to parental education were not significant
(however, the most persistent emotional or behavioral problems -- which
excludes those lasting less than three months -- while relatively small in
number, were highest among parents with low levels of educational attainment
-- data not shown). Education and income differences among those with a
developmental delay were not statistically significant in most cases.
The lower prevalence of these disabilities for racial minorities can be
attributed to under reporting by black and Hispanic respondents.
For learning disabilities and emotional or behavioral problems, children in
families where the biological mother and father are both present were much
less likely to experience one or more of the three conditions than those in
other types of family settings. For developmental delays, there was little
significant difference among various family types. (The "All Other" family
structure category includes children living with fathers, fathers with
stepmothers, grandparents or other relatives, or in adoptive or foster
homes.)
** Explanatory Notes
Data in this table come from the 1988 National Health Interview Survey of
Child Health. All responses were made for the child by an adult, usually the
mother. Respondents were asked if the child has or ever had 1) a delay in
growth or development (asked of children 0-17 years), 2) a learning
disability (asked of children 3-17 years), or 3) an emotional or behavioral
problem lasting three months or more (asked of children 3-17 years).
Concerning the third item, if the child had ever seen a psychiatrist or other
professional in this regard, or if during the past 12 months the respondent
felt or had anyone suggest the need for such help, item 3 was considered
positive. Because the questionnaire identified children who had ever had one
or more of the three conditions, data represent lifetime prevalence.
Table 7. Number and Percent of Children Who Ever Had a Delay In Growth
Or Development, A Learning Disability, or An Emotional Problem That
Lasted 3 Months or More or Required Psychological Help,
By Age And Selected Characteristics: United Stated, 1988
Delays In Emotional
Total Growth or Total Learning or
Population Development Population Disabilities Behavioral
17 Years All Ages 3-17 Years All Ages Problems
Characteristics and Under 17 Years 3-17 Years All Ages
and Under 3-17 Years
Number Percent Number Percent Percent
(In Thousands) (In Thousands)
All Children (1) 63,569 4.0 52,209 6.5 13.4
Age
2 Years and Under 11,360 4.3 -- -- --
3-5 Years 10,748 4.4 10,748 1.6 5.3
6-11 Years 20,966 4.1 20,966 6.8 12.7
12-17 Years 20,495 3.6 20,495 8.8 18.5
Sex
Male 32,526 4.2 26,621 8.6 15.4
Female 31,043 3.8 25,588 4.4 11.3
Race
White 51,380 4.4 42,314 6.7 14.2
Black 9,820 2.1 8,009 6.2 10.3
Hispanic Origin
Hispanic 7,239 3.4 5,965 5.8 12.0
Non-Hispanic 55,031 4.2 45,519 6.6 13.6
Family Income
Less than $10,000 7,924 5.4 6,219 8.4 15.8
$10,000-$24,999 16,708 4.0 13,435 7.2 14.5
$25,000-$39,999 15,737 4.0 12,986 6.2 13.4
$40,000 or more 16,071 3.9 13,638 5.8 12.8
Place of Residence
MSA 48,314 3.8 39,521 6.5 13.7
Central City 18,972 3.1 15,210 5.9 13.6
Not Central City 29,342 4.2 24,311 6.9 13.8
Not MSA 15,255 4.7 12,688 6.5 12.4
Assessed Health Status
Excellent,Very Good, 61,173 3.7 50,307 6.3 13.1
or Good
Fair or Poor 1,788 15.2 1,413 15.1 23.3
Mother's Education
Less than 12 Years 12,479 3.3 10,362 8.7 13.6
12 Years 26,791 4.2 22,315 6.8 12.5
More than 12 Years 22,899 4.2 18,416 4.9 13.7
Family Structure
Biological Mother 38,999 3.8 30,856 5.5 8.3
and Father
Biological Mother 4,477 3.7 4,369 9.1 23.6
and Stepfather
Biological Mother 13,716 4.5 11,323 7.5 19.1
Only (2)
All Other 6,377 4.8 5,661 8.3 22.2
1 Includes other races and unknown socio-demographic and health
characteristics.
2 Includes families in which the mother lived with the child's grandmother
or other adult relative.
Note: MSA is metropolitan statistical area.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, 1988 National Health
Interview Survey, Child Health Supplement. Advance Data from
Vital and Health Statistics, Number 190.
Table 8.Disability Status of Children, by Selected Characteristics:
United States, 1984
** Highlights:
Among the 62.4 million persons under 18 years of age, 1.9 million, or 3.1
percent, had a physical, or mental or emotional disability. This consisted
of 2.0 percent who had only a physical disability, 0.9 percent who had only a
mental or emotional disability, and 0.2 percent who had both types of
disability.
Among all children with a disability, 1.6 million were white, 0.3 million
were black, and 0.1 million were Hispanic.
Children in families with monthly household incomes under $600 were more
likely to have a disability, at 4.5 percent, than their counterparts with
monthly household income of $3,000 and over, at 2.6 percent.
Disability was greatest among children living in female headed households
with no spouse present, at 4.5 percent, compared to married couple families,
at 2.6 percent.
Children with Medicaid coverage were more likely to have a disability, at 5.3
percent, than those with private health insurance, at 2.9 percent.
Most children, regardless of disability, were able to attend school. The
disability rate among the 62.2 million school children was 2.7 percent,
compared to 100 percent for the 251,000 who could not attend.
** Explanatory notes
Data for this table come from the third wave supplement to the 1984 panel of
the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) conducted by the U.S.
Census Bureau during May through August 1984. A separate group of questions
was asked of children under 18 years of age to determine if the child had 1)
a long-lasting physical condition that limited his or her ability to walk,
run, or play, or 2) a long-lasting mental or emotional problem that limited
his or her ability to learn or do regular schoolwork. Unlike the previous
table, which presented lifetime prevalence from three disability categories,
this table shows children who currently had a disability at the time of the
survey using two categories.
Table 8. Disability Status of Children, by Selected Characteristics,
United States, 1984
(Persons under 18 years. Numbers in thousands.)
***************** With a Disability ********************
Both Physical
Mental or and Mental
Physical Only Emotional Only or Emotional
Characteristics Total Number % Number % Number % Number %
Persons under 62,445 1,916 3.1 1,241 2.0 536 0.9 139 0.2
18 years old
Sex
Male 31,898 1,075 3.4 658 2.1 333 1.0 83 0.3
Female 30,547 842 2.8 583 1.9 203 0.7 56 0.2
Race and Spanish Origin
White 50,765 1,560 3.1 1,002 2.0 437 0.9 121 0.2
Black 9,496 319 3.4 208 2.2 92 1.0 19 0.2
Spanish 4,943 101 2.0 80 1.6 -- -- 22 0.4
Origin (1)
Age
0 to 1 years 10,953 136 1.2 118 1.1 8 0.1 10 0.1
3 to 5 years 10,522 218 2.1 176 1.7 27 0.3 15 0.1
6 to 9 years 12,893 443 3.4 287 2.2 122 0.9 24 0.3
10 to 14 years 17,275 699 4.0 418 2.4 240 1.4 41 0.2
15 to 17 years 10,802 420 3.9 242 2.2 138 1.3 40 0.4
Ability to Attend
Regular School
Does attend 62,194 1,666 2.7 1,150 1.8 433 0.7 83 0.1
or will attend
Can not attend 251 251 100.0 91 36.3 103 41.0 56 22.3
or will not attend
Monthly Household Income
Under $600 8,069 366 4.5 249 3.1 80 1.0 37 0.5
$600-$1,199 9,177 336 3.7 181 2.0 123 1.3 31 0.3
$1,200-$1,999 13,628 329 2.4 191 1.4 109 0.8 28 0.2
$2,000-$2,999 15,035 460 3.1 321 2.1 106 0.7 32 0.2
$3,000 and + 16,537 426 2.6 298 1.8 118 0.7 11 0.1
Living Arrangements
In married- 47,225 1,237 2.6 831 1.8 305 0.6 100 0.2
couple family
In family with 13,755 618 4.5 386 2.8 196 1.4 36 0.3
female
householder,
no husband present
Health Insurance Coverage
Covered by 44,110 1,277 2.9 853 1.9 327 0.7 98 0.2
private health
insurance
Covered by 8,004 426 5.3 309 3.9 90 1.1 28 0.3
Medicaid
1 Persons of Spanish origin may be of any race.
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1984 Survey of Income and Program
Participation (SIPP), Current Population Reports, Series P-70,
No. 8, Table 6.
Table 9.Comparison of Standardized One-Month, Six-Month, and Lifetime
Prevalence of Mental Disorders, Expressed as a Percent of the Population
18 Years and Older, United States: 1980- 84
** Highlights
The percentage of the U.S. population 18 years of age and over reporting a
mental disorder increased with the durance of the reference period. The
percentage with a current mental health disorder at the time of the survey
(one month prevalence) was 15.4 percent. If a person had a disorder at any
time during the past six months, the rate increased to 19.1 percent. If the
disorder occurred at any point during the person's life (lifetime
prevalence), the rate rose to 32.2 percent.
The most common current disorders, those with a one-month prevalence, include
phobia (6.2 percent), dysthymia (long-term, non-major depression) (3.3
percent), alcohol abuse/dependence (2.8 percent) and major depressive episode
(2.2 percent).
About half of the total prevalence for each of the three periods involved
substance use disorders and phobias.
When substance abuse disorders and phobia are excluded, the reported
prevalence rates are 8.3 percent for any one-month period, 9.4 percent during
the past six months, and 13.8 percent at any time in life.
** Explanatory Notes
Data for this table come from the Epidemiological Catchment Area (ECA)
Survey, a five-site program of the National Institute of Mental Health
(NIMH). The survey, which covers non-institutionalized adults 18 years of
age and older, is conducted in conjunction with Yale University (New Haven,
CT), The Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD), Washington University (St.
Louis, MO), Duke University (Durham, NC), and UCLA (Los Angeles, CA). The
data show the prevalence of mental disorders, regardless of severity and
whether these conditions cause a disability by limiting one's activity. The
NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) was used as the case- identification
instrument in the ECA studies. While not based on a national probability
sample, NIMH staff have been able to compute national prevalence estimates
for persons living in the community.
NIMH reports that younger persons, under age 45, had higher prevalence rates
for most disorders than their older counterparts, with the exception of
cognitive impairment. Men had higher rates for substance abuse and
antisocial personality than women. At the same time, women had higher rates
for affective, anxiety and somatization disorders than men (data not shown).
The table presents percentages of persons with one or more disorder, in terms
of several different condition groupings. For example, one total excludes
substance abuse disorders. This allows distinguishing among various
groupings and permits comparisons with other studies which may not include
all the disorders in the ECA program.
In June 1991, NIMH completed a preliminary analysis of the 1989 National
Health Interview Survey (NHIS) special mental health supplement. This
analysis differs from the ECA program by including only person who have a
severe and persistent mental illness, and it identifies how many are disabled
as a result. According to this analysis, between 2.2 and 2.8 million
non-institutionalized adults age 18 and over are currently disabled due to a
severe and persistent mental illness. Another 0.5 million are severely
mentally ill but are not currently disabled as a result. Therefore, NIMH
estimates that a total of 3.3 million non-institutionalized adults 18 years
of age and over are severely mentally ill (see introduction for a detailed
discussion of mental health measurement issues).
Table 9. Comparison of Standardized One-Month, Six-Month, and Lifetime
Prevalence of Mental/Disorders Expressed as a Percent of the Population
18 Years and Older, United States: 1980-84*
Rate, % (SE) (1)
Disorders**
1 Month 6 Months Lifetime
Any DIS disorder covered 15.4 (0.4) 19.1 (0.4) 32.2 (0.5)
Any DIS disorder except 11.2 (0.3) 13.1 (0.4) 19.6 (0.4)
cognitive impairment,
substance use disorder,
and antisocial personality
Any DIS disorder except phobia 11.2 (0.3) 14.0 (0.4) 25.2 (0.5)
Any DIS disorder except 12.6 (0.3) 14.8 (0.4) 22.1 (0.4)
substance use disorders
Any DIS disorder except 8.3 (0.3) 9.4 (0.3) 13.8 (0.4)
substance use or phobia
Substance use disorders 3.8 (0.3) 6.0 (0.3) 16.4 (0.4)
Alcohol abuse/dependence 2.8 (0.2) 4.7 (0.2) 13.3 (0.4)
Drug abuse/dependence 1.3 (0.1) 2.0 (0.1) 5.9 (0.2)
Schizophrenic/ 0.7 (0.1) 0.9 (0.1) 1.5 (0.1)
schizophreniform disorders
Schizophrenia 0.6 (0.1) 0.8 (0.1) 1.3 (0.1)
Schizophreniform disorder 0.1 (0.0) 0.1 (0.0) 0.1 (0.0)
Affective disorders 5.1 (0.2) 5.8 (0.3) 8.3 (0.3)
Manic episode 0.4 (0.1) 0.5 (0.1) 0.8 (0.1)
Major depressive episode 2.2 (0.2) 3.0 (0.2) 5.8 (0.3)
Dysthymia (2) 3.3 (0.2) 3.3 (0.2) 3.3 (0.2)
Anxiety disorders 7.3 (0.3) 8.9 (0.3) 14.6 (0.4)
Phobia 6.2 (0.2) 7.7 (0.3) 12.5 (0.3)
Panic 0.5 (0.1) 0.8 (0.1) 1.6 (0.1)
Obsessive-compulsive 1.3 (0.1) 1.5 (0.1) 2.5 (0.2)
Somatization disorder 0.1 (0.0) 0.1 (0.0) 0.1 (0.0)
Personality disorder, 0.5 (0.1) 0.8 (0.1) 2.5 (0.2)
antisocial personality
Cognitive impairment 1.3 (0.1) 1.3 (0.1) 1.3 (0.1)
(severe) (2)
* The rates are standardized to the age, sex and race distribution
of the 1980 noninstitutionalized population of the United States
aged 18 years and older.
** DIS indicates Diagnostic Interview Schedule.
1 SE is the standard error.
2 Dysthymia and cognitive impairment have no recency information;
thus, the rates are the same for all three time periods.
Source: National Institute of Mental Health, Epidemiological Catchment
Area Survey, consolidation of data from the five sites surveyed
between 1980 and 1984, in Regier, Darrel A., et al., "One-Month
Prevalence of Mental Disorders in the United States Based on
Five Epidemiological Catchment Area Sites," Archives of General
Psychiatry (American Medical Association, 1988), 961.
Table 10.Estimated Number of Non-Institutionalized Persons with
Developmental Disabilities by Degree of Activity Limitation:
United States, 1979-1980
** Highlights
Over 6 million persons, or 2.8 percent of the non-institutionalized
population reported an activity limitation with an onset before age 22 caused
by a developmental disability.
More than 1.5 percent, or 3.3 million persons, reported such a limitation in
their major activity, such as work or school, while only 0.2 percent, or 0.5
million persons, reported they were unable to carry out their major activity
as a result of a developmental disability.
Developmental disabilities affect persons across the life span, and 43
percent with any activity limitation as a result are 22 years of age and
over; although 90 percent are under the age of 45.
** Explanatory Notes
This table presents calculations from the 1979 and 1980 National Health
Interview Survey (NHIS) on the prevalence of developmental disabilities in
the United States with an onset of activity limitation before age 22.
Combining data from two years yielded a sample size of approximately 3,200
persons (1,600 per year) who were limited in a major activity and another 500
who reported being unable to perform their major activity. The 1979 and 1980
NHIS samples were used because subsequent NHIS versions did not contain the
question on the age of onset for limitation in activities. Developmental
disabilities include cerebral palsy, epilepsy, mental retardation, and
neurologically-based conditions such as dyslexia. Approximately 95 percent
of the count of all persons with a developmental disability in this table are
mentally retarded.
The level of functioning must be inferred from the three types of activity
limitation defined by the National Center for Health Statistics in the NHIS.
These are 1) a limitation in the amount or kind of major activity, such as
attending school, ordinary play, or work, 2) inability to perform one's major
activity at all, and 3) limitation in non-major activity such as social or
recreational activity.
Experts estimate that at any given point in time, approximately 1 percent of
the total population are mentally retarded. In terms of lifetime prevalence,
the Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC) estimates that approximately 3
percent of the total population will develop mental retardation at some time
in their lives. Of this three percent, or 6.6 million persons, ARC estimates
that 2.6 million are under the age of 21 years, 89 percent have mild
retardation, 6 percent moderate, 3.5 percent severe, and 1.5 percent
profound.
Table 10. Estimated Number of Non-Institutionalized Persons with
Developmental Disabilities by Degree of Activity Limitation:
United States, 1979-1980*
***** Persons With Developmental Disabilities *****
All Ages Any
Total Limitation Broad (a) Middle (b) Narrow (c)
Population Definition** Definition Definition Definition
216,822,717 31,452,826 6,009,111 3,302,275 511,085
Age Group
0 - 2 9,689,674 147,273 147,273 147,273 39,534
3 - 5 9,166,231 298,713 298,713 298,713 28,826
6 - 12 23,777,029 969,850 969,850 444,362 7,927
13 - 17 19,546,937 1,069,563 1,069,563 390,685 26,096
18 - 21 16,009,188 949,467 949,467 500,668 93,590
22 - 44 71,520,499 6,814,450 1,982,080 1,174,238 232,492
45 - 64 43,496,237 10,432,127 464,778 273,826 61,719
65+ 23,616,923 10,771,385 127,389 72,512 20,912
* Where onset of activity limitation occurred before age 22.
** All persons with an activity limitation, regardless of cause,
including individuals with no developmental disability.
a Broad definition is any limitation of activity with onset before age 22.
b Middle definition is any limitation in major activity with onset before
age 22.
c Narrow definition is inability to do major activity with onset before
age 22.
Source: National Health Interview Survey, 1979-1980. Estimates are
annual averages. Produced from public use tapes by Mitchell
P. LaPlante, Ph.D., Disability Statistics Program, University
of CA, San Francisco, revised 2/14/90, as presented in Thornton,
et al, "Design for a National Survey of Persons with Developmental
Disabilities," Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.: U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services, February 1990.
Table 11.Satisfaction with Life: A Comparison Between Disabled and
Non-Disabled Persons: United States, 1986
** Highlights
Those indicating they are "disabled" are less likely to be satisfied with
life than those reporting they are "non- disabled." Among "disabled
persons," 69 percent report they are either "somewhat satisfied" or "very
satisfied" with life, compared to 90 percent for the "non-disabled"
population.
By the same token, "disabled" persons were more likely to report being either
"somewhat dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied" with life than their
counterparts without a disability (24 versus 6 percent).
The percentage of the population dissatisfied with life increased with the
degree to which the disability caused a limitation of activities.
Thirty-three percent of those who could not work, keep house, or participate
in other activities were either "somewhat dissatisfied" or "very
dissatisfied" with life, compared to only 8 percent of those whose disability
caused no limitation.
Dissatisfaction with life also rose with the severity of the disability, with
those having a very severe disability more than 10 times as likely to report
they are very dissatisfied as those with a slight disability (2 versus 21
percent).
** Explanatory Notes
Data for this table come from a survey of persons with a disability conducted
by Louis Harris and Associates for the International Center for the Disabled,
in cooperation with the National Council on the Handicapped. The survey is
based on 1,000 telephone interviews. The 1,000 persons were selected during
pre-screening calls to ascertain disability. A person was defined as
disabled if he or she:
- had a disability or health problem that prevented them from participating
fully in work, school or other activity,
- had a physical disability, a seeing, hearing or speech impairment, an
emotional or mental disability, or a learning disability, or
- considered himself or herself disabled, or said that other people would
consider him or her disabled.
Because the sample size is only 1,000 persons, small differences may be due
to chance. For this reason, only very general patterns are included in the
highlights.
Table 11. Satisfaction with Life: A Comparison Between Disabled and
Non-Disabled Persons: United States, 1986
How satisfied are you with life in general -- very satisfied,
somewhat satisfied, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, somewhat
dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
********************** Percent **********************
Base Neither
Number Satisfied
of ** Satisfied ** Nor Dissatisfied Not Sure
Persons Very Somewhat Dissatisfied Somewhat Very Refused
Characteristics
Non-disabled 1,064 50 40 3 5 1 1
persons *
Total disabled 1,000 39 30 3 16 8 3
persons
Age
16-34 years 190 35 42 4 12 5 1
35-44 years 136 38 26 4 17 15 -
45-54 years 145 28 32 4 22 12 2
55-64 years 232 43 25 2 20 8 3
65 and over 296 43 30 4 11 6 -
Onset of Limitation
Birth- 139 40 38 2 8 10 2
adolescence
Young adult 226 32 33 6 18 9 1
Middle age 216 39 26 3 22 7 3
After age 55 336 38 29 3 16 8 6
Limitation of Activities
Cannot work, 455 29 30 3 21 12 4
keep house,etc.
Limited in 381 43 31 3 14 6 3
amount or kind
of work 86 52 29 6 7 2 4
Other activities
limited 77 62 29 1 5 3 -
Not limited at
all
Severity of Disability
Slight 144 55 31 1 11 2 2
Moderate 310 47 33 4 10 3 2
Somewhat 284 31 33 4 23 6 3
severe
Very severe 237 29 25 3 16 21 7
* Based on a 1985 national sample of adults aged 18 and over who say
that they don't have a limiting disability or health problem.
Source: Louis Harris and Associates, Disabled American's Self-Perception:
Bringing Americans into the Mainstream (International Center for
the Disabled, Study No. 854009, 1986), Table 19.
Table 12.Percentage Who Feel Disability has Prevented Them From Reaching
Their Potential as a Person: United States, 1986
** Highlights
The majority of persons with a disability or health problem, 57 percent,
believes that their disability has prevented them reaching their full
potential as a person.
This belief varies by degree of activity limitation, from 22 percent (not
limited at all) to 69 percent (cannot work, keep house, etc.)
Severity of limitation is also correlated with this belief, from 29 percent
(slight disability) to 72 percent (very severe disability).
Among persons with a disability, there is a strong relationship between this
belief and one's self-perception of his or her disability. Of persons with a
disability or health problem, who nonetheless do not consider themselves
disabled, 44 percent believe disability has prevented them from reaching
their potential in life. However, among persons with a disability or health
problem who, indeed, consider themselves disabled, 71 percent believe
disability has prevented them from reaching their potential in life.
** Explanatory Notes
Data for this table come from a survey of persons with a disability conducted
by Louis Harris and Associates for the International Center for the Disabled,
in cooperation with the National Council on the Handicapped. For a
description of this survey, see Table 11.
Table 12. Percentage Who Feel Disability has Prevented Them From
Reaching Their Full Abilities as a Person: United States, 1986
Do you feel that your disability or health problem has in any way
prevented you from reaching what you feel are your full abilities
as a person, or not?
********** Percentage **********
Characteristic Base Has Has Not Not Sure/
Prevented Prevented Refused
Total Disabled Persons 1,000 57 40 2
Age
16-34 years 190 50 46 4
35-44 years 136 60 40 -
45-54 years 145 65 34 1
55-64 years 232 61 36 3
65 and over 296 54 43 3
Onset of Limitation
Birth-adolescence 139 56 40 4
Young adult 226 64 35 1
Middle age 216 63 36 2
After age 55 336 58 40 3
Limitation of Activities
Cannot work, 455 69 26 3
keep house, etc.
Limited in amount 381 56 43 2
or kind of work
Other activities limited 86 30 67 2
Not limited at all 77 22 78 -
Severity of Disability
Slight 144 29 69 2
Moderate 310 52 45 2
Somewhat severe 284 62 36 1
Very severe 237 72 25 4
Self Perception
Considers self disabled 484 71 26 2
Does not consider self 504 44 55 2
disabled
Satisfaction With Life
Very/somewhat 692 49 48 2
satisfied
Neither satisfied nor 35 63 28 9
dissatisfied
Very/somewhat 242 79 20 1
dissatisfied
Source: Louis Harris and Associates, Disabled American's Self-Perception:
Bringing Americans into the Mainstream (International Center for
the Disabled, Study No. 854009, 1986), Table 11.
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