title: Comparing the self-concepts of Hong Kong Chinese adults with visible and not visible physical disability.
abstract: In the present study, the authors evaluated the self-concept levels of Hong Kong Chinese adults with visible and not visible physical disabilities. Fifty-five Hong Kong Chinese (22 men and 33 women) aged 18 to 55 (M = 39.50, SD = 10.21) participated-20 without physical disabilities (control group), 20 with visible physical disabilities, and 15 with physical disabilities that were not visible. All the participants responded to the Self-Concept Questionnaire for Hong Kong Chinese With Physical Disabilities (SCQPD; S. F. Tam & D. Watkins, 1997). The group with visible disabilities scored significantly lower in self-concept than did the control group and the group with disabilities that were not visible. There were also significant differences between specific facets of self-concept for people with visible and not visible disabilities. It was interesting to find that there was no significant difference in self-concept levels between the not visible group and the control group. The implications for rehabilitation and social services for these various groups are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon. rsalan@polyu.edu.hk
authors.forename: Sing-Fai
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: Mei Hing
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Hoi Wa
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Lai Hing
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires