Online Activity, Offline Sociability, and Life Satisfaction Among Israelis With and Without Disabilities

Facebook usage and quality of life of individuals with visual impairments

The aim of the present study was to examine the impact of Facebook usage on the quality of life of individuals with visual impairment while also investigating the impact of Facebook communication in comparison with face-to-face communication on quality of life. Ninety-two adult users of Facebook with visual impairment, of whom 46 lived in Greece and 46 lived abroad, participated in this study. Regarding Facebook usage, a questionnaire which investigated the frequency of various aspects of Facebook activity and Facebook communication as well as face-to-face communication was used in this study. Regarding quality of life, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, a single-item happiness scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory were employed to evaluate three different indicators of quality of life. Participants’ quality of life was relatively high. Findings showed that face-to-face communication with friends was a significant predictor of quality of life, while neither Facebook communication nor Facebook usage correlated with any of the indicators of quality of life investigated.

Social involvement, socio-economic status and subjective well-being of parents of offspring with intellectual and developmental disabilities

BACKGROUND

The study explores whether households' socio-economic status and social involvement can moderate the association between stress and subjective well-being among parents of offspring with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

METHOD

The random national sample comprised 301 parents caring for offspring with IDD. Measurements consist of a household income survey, a questionnaire on resources and stress, a social involvement questionnaire and a personal well-being index. Using PROCESS software, a regression-based path analysis has been used to test the moderating effect of social involvement and socio-economic status on the association between stress and subjective well-being.

RESULTS

Social involvement moderated the association between parental stress and subjective well-being. At high levels of parental stress only, parents with increased social involvement reported better subjective well-being. Significant interaction was observed between stress and socio-economic status.

CONCLUSIONS

Among parents raising offspring with IDD, social involvement may enhance the relationship between parental stress and subjective well-being. At lower stress levels, better socio-economic status is associated with increased subjective well-being.