The mediating role of positive feelings in the association between adaptation to disability and positive emotional well-being in a sample of students with congenital physical disabilities.

Background: Adaptation to disability (AD) is linked to positive feelings (PF) and positive emotional well-being (PEWB), while emotional suppression can improve adaptation and provide temporary PEWB but will not lead to sustainable positive mental health. This study examined whether and to what extent PF might mediate the link between AD and PEWB in a sample of students with congenital physical disabilities (CPD) in Rwanda.

Methods: A sample of 46 students with CPD (21 females, i.e., 45.65% and 25 males i.e., 54.34%; mean age: M = 20 years; SD = 2.05) were administered questionnaires to assess their AD, PF, and PEWB.

Results: Results showed that PF (r = - 0.37, p < 0.05) and PEWB (r = - 0.37, p < 0.05) were significantly and negatively correlated with AD, while PF was significantly and positively correlated with PEWB (r = 0.70, p < 0.01). Results further suggested that there was a strong indirect negative relationship between AD and PEWB mediated by PF (a*b = - 0.68, Bootstrap CI95 = - 1.30 and - 0.26), with the Sobel test statistics of - 2.4131 against a significant one-tailed p-value (p < 0.01) and two-tailed p-value (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Results emphasize that understanding AD and PF for students with CPD at risk of decreased PEWB could lead to suitable interventions. Also, results can be used by future researchers, policymakers, and other related institutions to understand the inner feelings of students with CPD for further support.