Research is beginning to indicate that positive disability identity is associated with positive psychosocial outcomes among people with disabilities. Personal disability identity (PDI) refers to self-concept as a person with a disability. Two studies were conducted to examine (a) the psychometric properties of new PDI subscales and (b) the association between the new subscales and hope, a cognitive motivational construct. In Study 1, the author examined the structural validity and internal consistency of recently developed measures of PDI (i.e., disability self-worth and personal meaning in disability) in a sample of 247 adults with physical and sensory disabilities. In Study 2, the author examined the association between the two PDI subscales and hope (i.e., pathways and agency) in a subsample of 147 U.S. residents. In Study 1, internal consistency of all instruments was supported and confirmatory factor analyses supported the structural validity of the PDI subscales in a sample representing a broader disability subgroup than the original measurement development study, which had exclusively examined adults with visual impairment and blindness (Zapata, 2019). In Study 2, findings from hierarchical linear regression indicated that scores on disability self-worth and personal meaning were significantly and positively associated with hope scores ( p < .001), after accounting for demographic and disability characteristics. Study 1 found preliminary evidence to support the use of two new PDI subscales (i.e., disability self-worth and personal meaning) in academic research among adult U.S. residents with physical and sensory disabilities. Study 2 introduced disability self-worth and personal meaning as predictors of hope. Given prior research on the relationship between hope and positive adjustment among people with disabilities, these findings contribute to the emerging literature on the predictive role of disability identity in positive life outcomes among adults with disabilities.

BackgroundAcute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most frequently encountered bacterial infections in children aged < 5 years; Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) and non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) are historically identified as primary AOM causes. Nevertheless, recent data on bacterial pathogens causing AOM in Latin America are limited. This prospective study aimed to identify and characterize bacterial etiology and serotypes of AOM cases including antimicrobial susceptibility in < 5 year old Colombian children.MethodsFrom February 2008 to January 2009, children ≥3 months and < 5 years of age presenting with AOM and for whom a middle ear fluid (MEF) sample was available were enrolled in two medical centers in Cali, Colombia. MEF samples were collected either by tympanocentesis procedure or spontaneous otorrhea swab sampling. Bacteria were identified using standard laboratory methods, and antimicrobial resistance testing was performed based on the 2009 Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) criteria. Most of the cases included in the study were sporadic in nature.ResultsOf the 106 enrolled children, 99 were included in the analysis. Bacteria were cultured from 62/99 (63%) of samples with S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, or S. pyogenes. The most commonly isolated bacteria were H. influenzae in 31/99 (31%) and S. pneumoniae in 30/99 (30%) of samples. The majority of H. influenzae episodes were NTHi (27/31; 87%). 19F was the most frequently isolated pneumococcal serotype (10/30; 33%). Of the 30 S. pneumoniae positive samples, 8/30 (27%) were resistant to tetracycline, 5/30 (17%) to erythromycin and 8/30 (27%) had intermediate resistance to penicillin. All H. influenzae isolates tested were negative to beta-lactamase.ConclusionsNTHi and S. pneumoniae are the leading causes of AOM in Colombian children. A pneumococcal conjugate vaccine that prevents both pathogens could be useful in maximizing protection against AOM.

Future research on disability identity may benefit from a separate consideration of disability denial and disability affirmation. Lower disability denial predicts higher general self-efficacy in RP. Clinical implications include supporting personal disability acceptance rather than attempting to "normalize" individuals with disabilities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Introduction: In this study, the author examined the association between general self-efficacy (GSE) and employment status in working-age adults with retinitis pigmentosa (RP; N = 183). The author further examined the associations between employment status and factors that were previously found to be linked to employment outcomes in individuals with visual impairments: educational attainment, mobility tool use (i.e., use of dog guide or cane), ability to drive, age, gender, and age at onset of visual impairment. Methods: Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze cross-sectional data collected online in 2015. Results: Findings indicated that individuals with RP who have a bachelor’s degree or higher had significantly higher odds of being employed ( p < .01) and that individuals with RP who use a cane or dog guide had significantly lower odds of being employed ( p < .01). Although not statistically significant, findings further indicated that individuals with RP who have higher GSE had higher odds of being employed ( p = .07) and that individuals who are able to drive had 130% higher odds of being employed ( p = .06). Discussion: Results demonstrated an association between GSE and employment status, after controlling for factors that were previously linked to employment outcomes in individuals with visual impairment. Implications for practitioners: Self-efficacy is an alterable cognitive construct and may be the target of interventions to increase employment outcomes for adults with RP or other eye conditions.

Objective Visual impairment (VI) has been associated with depression and anxiety. Although researchers have identified several relevant individual differences associated with risk for depression and anxiety, researchers have not considered the role of personal disability identity (PDI) in depression and anxiety for people with VI. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between two aspects of PDI, perceived self‐worth and personal meaning, and depression and anxiety among people with VI. Method Hierarchical linear regressions assessed the relative contribution of PDI and disability characteristics to anxiety and depression in an international sample of adults with VI (N = 390). Results Lower disability self‐worth, but not lower personal meaning, was significantly associated with higher depression and anxiety, explaining more variance than demographic or disability‐related factors. Conclusion By introducing disability self‐worth as a correlate of depression and anxiety in VI, study findings suggest that considering and cultivating PDI for people with VI may be useful for improving clinical outcomes.