Living with motor disability between prejudice and inclusion in today’s society: An observational study

Background: In Italy, more than 3 million people live with a disability. Among them, more than half experience motor impairments. Although attention to disability issues has globally increased in recent decades, literature on this topic remains limited. The aim of the study is to gather new information on the quality of life and lived experiences of individuals with motor disabilities, with particular focus on factors that may significantly influence their well-being, such as experiences of discrimination and perceived architectural barriers. Materials and Methods: We ran a cross-sectional online survey (n=110) disseminated via national associations. Validated tools were used: WHOQOL-BREF, BDI-II, STAI Y-1. Descriptive statistics summarized characteristics; Pearson correlations tested links among prejudice/discrimination/architectural barriers and outcomes; one-way ANOVA compared WHOQOL-BREF domains across BDI-II severity (p<0.05). Results: Severe state anxiety was present in 95.6% (moderate 1.8%). Depression severity was minimal in 54.9% of respondents, mild in 17.7%, moderate in 13.3%, and severe in 11.5%. Satisfaction was poor for territorial mobility (49.6%), accessibility of places (39.8%), and employment services (46.0%). Higher prejudice and architectural barriers correlated with lower QoL in physical and psychological domains; ANOVA showed progressively lower QoL with increasing depression severity (p<0.05 across domains). Conclusions: The findings clearly highlight the need for a holistic approach to individuals living with motor disabilities, one that goes beyond the physical condition and takes into account the fundamental role of psychosocial factors. Equally important is a societal shift in the perception of disability, to ensure full inclusion of individuals in all their complexity. (www.actabiomedica.it).